Saving the Gamehttps://www.stgcast.org
A Christian podcast about tabletop roleplaying games, collaborative storytelling in RPGs, and other interesting topicsTue, 19 Sep 2017 00:01:00 -0400https://podbean.com/?v=3.2enSaving the Game is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.Religion & Spirituality:Christianity1440Bringing Christianity and gaming back to the table A Christian tabletop and roleplaying game podcastSaving the GameSaving the Gamegrant.woodward@gmail.comNoCleanhttp://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/image-logo/627335/NEW-Saving-the-Game-Logo_iTunes.jpgSaving the Gamehttps://www.stgcast.org
144144Episode 117 - Con Planning (with Adam Gottfried)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-117-con-planning-with-adam-gottfried/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-117-con-planning-with-adam-gottfried/#commentsTue, 19 Sep 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hostsavingthegame.podbean.com/episode-117-con-planning-with-adam-gottfried-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Booter, con organizer, and friend Adam Gottfried joins us to talk about planning Fear the Con and other conventions! First, Adam has an announcement (the first piece of news ever broken on Saving the Game!)—Fear the Con 11 will be June 22-23, 2018. Also, there will be a Kickstarter for the con at some point, although those dates aren’t exactly set in stone yet. (For more Fear the Con, see Episode 61 with Derek Knutsen and a host of others.)

Having made that announcement, we tackle Patreon backer Jim’s question about obscure media we’d want to turn into a RPG. We also discuss an impending visit from the Bishop of Jerusalem, which naturally leads int [...]

]]>Booter, con organizer, and friend Adam Gottfried joins us to talk about planning Fear the Con and other conventions! First, Adam has an announcement (the first piece of news ever broken on Saving the Game!)—Fear the Con 11 will be June 22-23, 2018. Also, there will be a Kickstarter for the con at some point, although those dates aren't exactly set in stone yet. (For more Fear the Con, see Episode 61 with Derek Knutsen and a host of others.)

Having made that announcement, we tackle Patreon backer Jim's question about obscure media we'd want to turn into a RPG. We also discuss an impending visit from the Bishop of Jerusalem, which naturally leads into a discussion of Jerusalem Syndrome. Jenny also plugs Scott Westerfeld's "Leviathan" series, and especially its map.

All that done, we move on to our Scripture for the episode, and the episode's main topic: Planning and running a convention like Fear the Con. Most of this discussion is very much focused on Fear the Con, for obvious reasons; but we do manage to address the main things you need to think of when running a con, and how to handle problems as they arise!

Also:follow him on Mixer Grant's started to livestream the audio editing process! If you want to hear the raw episode, and chat with Grant while he edits, keep an eye on our social media feeds (especially Twitter) for announcements of streaming times. You can also and get notifications there!

Scripture: Proverbs 11:5-6, Hebrews 10:24-25, Romans 12:10-16

]]>Booter, con organizer, and friend Adam Gottfried joins us to talk about planning Fear the Con and other conventions! First, Adam has an announcement (the ...
Booter, con organizer, and friend Adam Gottfried joins us to talk about planning Fear the Con and other conventions! First, Adam has an announcement (the first piece of news ever broken on Saving the Game!)—Fear the Con 11 will be June 22-23, 2018. Also, there will be a Kickstarter for the con at some point, although those dates aren't exactly set in stone yet. (For more Fear the Con, see Episode 61 with Derek Knutsen and a host of others.)
Having made that announcement, we tackle Patreon backer Jim's question about obscure media we'd want to turn into a RPG. We also discuss an impending visit from the Bishop of Jerusalem, which naturally leads into a discussion of Jerusalem Syndrome. Jenny also plugs Scott Westerfeld's "Leviathan" series, and especially its map.
All that done, we move on to our Scripture for the episode, and the episode's main topic: Planning and running a convention like Fear the Con. Most of this discussion is very much focused on Fear the Con, for obvious reasons; but we do manage to address the main things you need to think of when running a con, and how to handle problems as they arise!
Also:follow him on Mixer Grant's started to livestream the audio editing process! If you want to hear the raw episode, and chat with Grant while he edits, keep an eye on our social media feeds (especially Twitter) for announcements of streaming times. You can also and get notifications there!
Scripture: Proverbs 11:5-6, Hebrews 10:24-25, Romans 12:10-16]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:07:50Episode 116 - Therapeutic Gaming Revisited (with Jack Berkenstock)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-116-therapeutic-gaming-revisited-with-jack-berkenstock/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-116-therapeutic-gaming-revisited-with-jack-berkenstock/#commentsTue, 05 Sep 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hostsavingthegame.podbean.com/episode-116-therapeutic-gaming-revisited-with-jack-berkenstock-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1We’re delighted to welcome Jack Berkenstock Jr. of The Bodhana Group back onto the mics this week! Jack previously joined us on STG 25, when he introduced us to the idea of roleplaying games as an adjunct therapeutic tool for children who were victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse, among others. This time, he’s here to talk more about RPGs in treatment for social skills, grief, loss, and more. After catching up with our old friend a bit, we let him plug Save Against Fear 2017 (Oct. 13-15 in Harrisburg, PA)—which we can confirm Jenny will attend this year, so catch up with her there too if you see her! We also plug the ]]>We're delighted to welcome Jack Berkenstock Jr. of The Bodhana Group back onto the mics this week! Jack previously joined us on STG 25, when he introduced us to the idea of roleplaying games as an adjunct therapeutic tool for children who were victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse, among others. This time, he's here to talk more about RPGs in treatment for social skills, grief, loss, and more. After catching up with our old friend a bit, we let him plug Save Against Fear 2017 (Oct. 13-15 in Harrisburg, PA)—which we can confirm Jenny will attend this year, so catch up with her there too if you see her! We also plug the /r/ChristianDnD subreddit, especially for anyone looking to find other folks to game online with.

Finally, we settle in and let Jack talk about his introduction to gaming, how he found out he wanted to do therapy for kids who were hurting badly, and how he figured out that those two loves might work together. In particular, we discuss methodologies, what kind of metrics work and don't work in these sorts of situations, Olivia's House, and how the therapeutic sessions Bodhana runs differ from your average tabletop game.

]]>We're delighted to welcome Jack Berkenstock Jr. of The Bodhana Group back onto the mics this week! Jack previously joined us on STG 25, when ...
We're delighted to welcome Jack Berkenstock Jr. of The Bodhana Group back onto the mics this week! Jack previously joined us on STG 25, when he introduced us to the idea of roleplaying games as an adjunct therapeutic tool for children who were victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse, among others. This time, he's here to talk more about RPGs in treatment for social skills, grief, loss, and more. After catching up with our old friend a bit, we let him plug Save Against Fear 2017 (Oct. 13-15 in Harrisburg, PA)—which we can confirm Jenny will attend this year, so catch up with her there too if you see her! We also plug the /r/ChristianDnD subreddit, especially for anyone looking to find other folks to game online with.
That done, we chat briefly about the 2017 total solar eclipse and answer (another) question from Patreon backer Fernando about Saturday morning cartoons we'd want to turn into games. Naturally, this gave us a chance to plug our podcasting friends over at the Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast, and Peter's episodes on Batman: The Animated Series there. Our other choices: E.X.O. Squad, Reboot, Star Blazers, and Toad Patrol! (And yes, please nominate your own cartoons to game in the comments.)
Finally, we settle in and let Jack talk about his introduction to gaming, how he found out he wanted to do therapy for kids who were hurting badly, and how he figured out that those two loves might work together. In particular, we discuss methodologies, what kind of metrics work and don't work in these sorts of situations, Olivia's House, and how the therapeutic sessions Bodhana runs differ from your average tabletop game.
Games mentioned this episode: Unknown Armies; Cartoon Action Hour; Blades in the Dark; No Thank You, Evil!; Pugmire; Retrostar. Also mentioned: Face Value Comics; The Anglican Church's "Prayer for Reconciliation".
Scripture: Psalm 16:7-10, Psalm 91:2-6, John 8:2-11, Galatians 6:1-2]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:38:12Episode 115 - RPGs in Social Skills Therapy (with Adam Davis and Adam Johns)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-115-rpgs-in-social-skills-therapy-with-adam-davis-and-adam-johns/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-115-rpgs-in-social-skills-therapy-with-adam-davis-and-adam-johns/#commentsTue, 22 Aug 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-115-rpgs-in-social-skills-therapy-with-adam-davis-and-adam-johns/Adam Davis and Adam Johns from Wheelhouse Workshop join us to discuss how and why they use Dungeons & Dragons in social skills therapy! Their Seattle-based organization has been doing this for a couple of years now, and they’ve got a lot to say. (We’ve also worked with Adam and Adam previously on some Game to Grow content.) We also tackle a question from Patreon supporter Francisco (of the Retro Rewind Podcast) about replacing our favorite RPGs with board games in a pinch, and Grant briefly describes his trip to ]]>Adam Davis and Adam Johns from Wheelhouse Workshop join us to discuss how and why they use Dungeons & Dragons in social skills therapy! Their Seattle-based organization has been doing this for a couple of years now, and they've got a lot to say. (We've also worked with Adam and Adam previously on some Game to Grow content.) We also tackle a question from Patreon supporter Francisco (of the Retro Rewind Podcast) about replacing our favorite RPGs with board games in a pinch, and Grant briefly describes his trip to Electric City Comic-Con 2017 and his terrible-but-awesome decision to help his daughter get into the Pokémon TCG.

Adam and Adam then discuss Wheelhouse Workshop's work: Why RPGs in general, and D&D in particular, are useful therapeutic tools; how a game session in their offices differs from your usual tabletop session; their house rules for their games; some success stories and interesting moments; and much more. Also, we mention in passing Monte Cook Games' The Strange and Microscope, both of which are excellent games.

]]>Adam Davis and Adam Johns from Wheelhouse Workshop join us to discuss how and why they useDungeons Dragons in social skills therapy! Their Seattle-based ...
Adam Davis and Adam Johns from Wheelhouse Workshop join us to discuss how and why they use Dungeons & Dragons in social skills therapy! Their Seattle-based organization has been doing this for a couple of years now, and they've got a lot to say. (We've also worked with Adam and Adam previously on some Game to Grow content.) We also tackle a question from Patreon supporter Francisco (of the Retro Rewind Podcast) about replacing our favorite RPGs with board games in a pinch, and Grant briefly describes his trip to Electric City Comic-Con 2017 and his terrible-but-awesome decision to help his daughter get into the Pokémon TCG.
Adam and Adam then discuss Wheelhouse Workshop's work: Why RPGs in general, and D&D in particular, are useful therapeutic tools; how a game session in their offices differs from your usual tabletop session; their house rules for their games; some success stories and interesting moments; and much more. Also, we mention in passing Monte Cook Games' The Strange and Microscope, both of which are excellent games.
For more information about Wheelhouse Workshop, visit their website or find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Scripture: Numbers 23:8, Mark 2:15-17, 1 Peter 5:6-10]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:12:20Episode 114 - Gaming and Counseling (with Matthew Surber)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-114-gaming-and-counseling-with-matthew-surber/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-114-gaming-and-counseling-with-matthew-surber/#commentsTue, 08 Aug 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-114-gaming-and-counseling-with-matthew-surber/We’re joined this week by Matthew Surber, who’s both the Program Director at the West River Center in Maryland and a game designer affiliated with Defy Danger Adventures. We actually found Matthew through the most unlikely of sources (Reddit comments, of all things) but he turned out to be a fantastic guest! After addressing Patreon backer Tom’s question about broad and narrow skills in roleplaying games, and a quick diversion from Jenny about the dangers of Canada’s nucl [...]]]>We're joined this week by Matthew Surber, who's both the Program Director at the West River Center in Maryland and a game designer affiliated with Defy Danger Adventures. We actually found Matthew through the most unlikely of sources (Reddit comments, of all things) but he turned out to be a fantastic guest! After addressing Patreon backer Tom's question about broad and narrow skills in roleplaying games, and a quick diversion from Jenny about the dangers of Canada's nuclear wildlife, we buckled down with Matthew to discuss applying counseling principles to games. Matthew's got a Master's degree in counseling and a Dungeon World game he runs for his other camp counselors; naturally, he had a lot of excellent advice to give about trust, bonds, empathy, and saying 'yes' as a GM and player.

]]>We're joined this week by Matthew Surber, who's both the Program Director at the West River Center in Marylandand a game designer affiliated with Defy ...
We're joined this week by Matthew Surber, who's both the Program Director at the West River Center in Maryland and a game designer affiliated with Defy Danger Adventures. We actually found Matthew through the most unlikely of sources (Reddit comments, of all things) but he turned out to be a fantastic guest! After addressing Patreon backer Tom's question about broad and narrow skills in roleplaying games, and a quick diversion from Jenny about the dangers of Canada's nuclear wildlife, we buckled down with Matthew to discuss applying counseling principles to games. Matthew's got a Master's degree in counseling and a Dungeon World game he runs for his other camp counselors; naturally, he had a lot of excellent advice to give about trust, bonds, empathy, and saying 'yes' as a GM and player.
Games mentioned this episode: Dungeon World; Beyond The Wall; Pugmire; Honey Heist; The Skeletons; Ten Candles.
Other things mentioned this episode: MegaDumbCast (MDC); Defy Danger Adventures; STG 25 with Jack Berkenstock; The Bodhana Group; Wheelhouse Workshop; and that rad Honey Heist t-shirt.
Matthew can be found on Twitter at @TheRealSurberus.
Scripture: Jonah 2:2, Psalm 119:76, Mark 2:15-17]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:08:24Episode 113 - The Fourth Commandmenthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-113-the-fourth-commandment/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-113-the-fourth-commandment/#commentsTue, 25 Jul 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesTen Commandmentshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-113-the-fourth-commandment/Our Ten Commandments series returns with the Fourth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” Before we get to that, however, we have a bit of business to go over and a bit of catching up to do. We spend a little time discussing our Patreon support, since we haven’t updated listeners on that in a while. Grant’s learning Korean, and blogged about that a bit; and Jenny needs to issue a correction regarding the Battletech game she described in the previous episode. After all that’s out of the way, though, we tackle a big question from Patreon supporter Richard, who asks us about our favorite RPG characters.

All that taken care of, we dive headfirst int [...]

]]>Our Ten Commandments series returns with the Fourth Commandment: "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." Before we get to that, however, we have a bit of business to go over and a bit of catching up to do. We spend a little time discussing our Patreon support, since we haven't updated listeners on that in a while. Grant's learning Korean, and blogged about that a bit; and Jenny needs to issue a correction regarding the Battletech game she described in the previous episode. After all that's out of the way, though, we tackle a big question from Patreon supporter Richard, who asks us about our favorite RPG characters.

All that taken care of, we dive headfirst into the Fourth Commandment. Why is this in the list of God's commandments? What does "keep the Sabbath" actually mean, and for whom? And how does this idea of holy, restorative rest apply to our games and our lives?

]]>Our Ten Commandments series returns with the Fourth Commandment: "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." Before we get to that, however, we have a ...
Our Ten Commandments series returns with the Fourth Commandment: "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." Before we get to that, however, we have a bit of business to go over and a bit of catching up to do. We spend a little time discussing our Patreon support, since we haven't updated listeners on that in a while. Grant's learning Korean, and blogged about that a bit; and Jenny needs to issue a correction regarding the Battletech game she described in the previous episode. After all that's out of the way, though, we tackle a big question from Patreon supporter Richard, who asks us about our favorite RPG characters.
All that taken care of, we dive headfirst into the Fourth Commandment. Why is this in the list of God's commandments? What does "keep the Sabbath" actually mean, and for whom? And how does this idea of holy, restorative rest apply to our games and our lives?
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11, Nehemiah 13:15-22, Mark 2:23-27, Acts 1:10-12]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:02:32Bonus Episode 10 - Fear the Con X Reviewhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-10-fear-the-con-x-review/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-10-fear-the-con-x-review/#commentsTue, 11 Jul 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-10-fear-the-con-x-review/It’s a special bonus episode this week, as Jenny and Peter recap their Fear the Con experiences! Peter also recently wrote about his very emotional slot 6 game, and if you haven’t read that yet, you really should. Special thanks to everyone involved in planning and producing Fear the Con; everyone we gamed with; and everyone who helped with the charity drive for Pat this year!

Also, our apologies for any audio issues in this episode; this was recorded on a single microphone designed for one person, so there was a lot of handing the mic back and forth. (On the other hand, this was recorded on Jenny’s new audio equipment, so look forward to a better sound from her on future episodes!)

]]>It's a special bonus episode this week, as Jenny and Peter recap their Fear the Con experiences! Peter also recently wrote about his very emotional slot 6 game, and if you haven't read that yet, you really should. Special thanks to everyone involved in planning and producing Fear the Con; everyone we gamed with; and everyone who helped with the charity drive for Pat this year!

Also, our apologies for any audio issues in this episode; this was recorded on a single microphone designed for one person, so there was a lot of handing the mic back and forth. (On the other hand, this was recorded on Jenny's new audio equipment, so look forward to a better sound from her on future episodes!)

]]>It's a special bonus episode this week, as Jenny and Peter recap their Fear the Con experiences! Peter also recently wrote about his very emotional ...
It's a special bonus episode this week, as Jenny and Peter recap their Fear the Con experiences! Peter also recently wrote about his very emotional slot 6 game, and if you haven't read that yet, you really should. Special thanks to everyone involved in planning and producing Fear the Con; everyone we gamed with; and everyone who helped with the charity drive for Pat this year!
Also, our apologies for any audio issues in this episode; this was recorded on a single microphone designed for one person, so there was a lot of handing the mic back and forth. (On the other hand, this was recorded on Jenny's new audio equipment, so look forward to a better sound from her on future episodes!)]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:41:27Episode 112 - Playing Above and Below Your Abilityhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-112-playing-above-and-below-your-ability/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-112-playing-above-and-below-your-ability/#commentsTue, 27 Jun 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-112-playing-above-and-below-your-ability/Grant, Peter, and Jenny discuss playing characters who are much better—or much worse—at things than you yourself are! This topic was selected by our Patreon backers, whom we’re very grateful for and who bring you this show every other week. First, though, we spend some time discussing Fear the Con X (which was last weekend, and which Peter and Jenny will run down next episode.) We also briefly discuss Overwatch and Dead Cells. We answer a question about wargaming from Patreon backer Kevin, and then get down to business—which includes a lengthy rant from Grant, and a surprising amount of bickering!

Mentioned in this episode:

]]>Grant, Peter, and Jenny discuss playing characters who are much better—or much worse—at things than you yourself are! This topic was selected by our Patreon backers, whom we're very grateful for and who bring you this show every other week. First, though, we spend some time discussing Fear the Con X (which was last weekend, and which Peter and Jenny will run down next episode.) We also briefly discuss Overwatch and Dead Cells. We answer a question about wargaming from Patreon backer Kevin, and then get down to business—which includes a lengthy rant from Grant, and a surprising amount of bickering!

]]>Grant, Peter, and Jenny discuss playing characters who are much betteror much worseat things than you yourself are! This topic was selected by our Patreon ...
Grant, Peter, and Jenny discuss playing characters who are much better—or much worse—at things than you yourself are! This topic was selected by our Patreon backers, whom we're very grateful for and who bring you this show every other week. First, though, we spend some time discussing Fear the Con X (which was last weekend, and which Peter and Jenny will run down next episode.) We also briefly discuss Overwatch and Dead Cells. We answer a question about wargaming from Patreon backer Kevin, and then get down to business—which includes a lengthy rant from Grant, and a surprising amount of bickering!
Mentioned in this episode: Dexter Manley; the Campaign podcast.
Scripture:Exodus 4:10, Isaiah 53:1-3, 1 Corinthians 9:22]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:06:47Episode 111 - LARP and the Psychology of Play (with Dr. Sarah Lynne Bowman)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-111-larp-and-the-psychology-of-play-with-dr-sarah-lynne-bowman/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-111-larp-and-the-psychology-of-play-with-dr-sarah-lynne-bowman/#commentsTue, 13 Jun 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-111-larp-and-the-psychology-of-play-with-dr-sarah-lynne-bowman/Psychology researcher, professor, and LARPer Dr. Sarah Lynne Bowman joins us for a fascinating discussion of LARP and the psychology of play and roleplaying! Sarah had an enormous amount of information to pass along to us about different styles of live-action roleplay, terminology and concepts in LARP and in the psychology of play, the seeming dichotomy between tabletop and live-action play, and so much more. It’s a bit less organized than many of our episodes, simply because we let Sarah take charge of much of the conversation, but we definitely think it turned out better for that! (And check below for a long list of links Sarah provided for us.)

We also answer a question from Patreon supporter Paige, who wanted to know how much time we spend each week on tabletop gaming; briefly discuss Overwatch; and mention

]]>Psychology researcher, professor, and LARPer Dr. Sarah Lynne Bowman joins us for a fascinating discussion of LARP and the psychology of play and roleplaying! Sarah had an enormous amount of information to pass along to us about different styles of live-action roleplay, terminology and concepts in LARP and in the psychology of play, the seeming dichotomy between tabletop and live-action play, and so much more. It's a bit less organized than many of our episodes, simply because we let Sarah take charge of much of the conversation, but we definitely think it turned out better for that! (And check below for a long list of links Sarah provided for us.)

We also answer a question from Patreon supporter Paige, who wanted to know how much time we spend each week on tabletop gaming; briefly discuss Overwatch; and mention Bottlequest, a Golden Cobra two-page LARP game we used in our recent Fellowship game as a one-shot bottle episode mechanic. Plus, a bit more information about fake beards and Fear the Con X!

]]>Psychology researcher, professor, and LARPer Dr. Sarah Lynne Bowman joins us for a fascinating discussion of LARP and the psychology of play and roleplaying! Sarah ...
Psychology researcher, professor, and LARPer Dr. Sarah Lynne Bowman joins us for a fascinating discussion of LARP and the psychology of play and roleplaying! Sarah had an enormous amount of information to pass along to us about different styles of live-action roleplay, terminology and concepts in LARP and in the psychology of play, the seeming dichotomy between tabletop and live-action play, and so much more. It's a bit less organized than many of our episodes, simply because we let Sarah take charge of much of the conversation, but we definitely think it turned out better for that! (And check below for a long list of links Sarah provided for us.)
We also answer a question from Patreon supporter Paige, who wanted to know how much time we spend each week on tabletop gaming; briefly discuss Overwatch; and mention Bottlequest, a Golden Cobra two-page LARP game we used in our recent Fellowship game as a one-shot bottle episode mechanic. Plus, a bit more information about fake beards and Fear the Con X!
For more information about Sarah, check out her website and her book, The Function of Role-Playing Games: How Participants Create Community, Solve Problems, and Explore Identity. You can also check out the Game to Grow episode we hosted, where Sarah was a guest; she's been on and hosted a few other episodes as well.
Things mentioned in this episode, or passed on after recording by Sarah:

]]>The Rev. Derek White, longtime friend of the showand known to the Internet as "The Geekpreacher", joins us once again to discuss spiritual warfare! After ...
The Rev. Derek White, longtime friend of the show and known to the Internet as "The Geekpreacher", joins us once again to discuss spiritual warfare! After introducing Derek (and letting him plug GaryCon), we turn our attention to some important information about fake beards and Fear the Con. Peter and Jenny will be wearing fake beards (ridiculous, nonsensical fake beards, to be clear) to Fear the Con in support of Pat Roper (one of Fear the Boot's hosts) and his ongoing treatment for Stage 3 pancreatic cancer. We also pass on the news of a listener's new game, the KARMA RPG System, funding on IndieGoGo.
With that taken care of, we address a question from Patreon supporter Francisco (of the Retro Rewind Podcast) about our favorite psalms, and any we might have memorized. (Turns out at least half of us really like Psalm 40, either live in concert or from the original album.) Then we settle in on our main topic: Spiritual warfare, in its various forms and interpretations among Christian traditions as well as in our roleplaying games. Derek and Peter both draw heavily from the book Reviving Old Scratch: Demons and Devils for the Disenchanted by Richard Beck for this discussion; likewise, Grant pulls from the PCUSA's "What We Believe" series, specifically this article on the problem of evil.
Also mentioned in this episode: Gustav Davidson's A Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels; Mayfair's Role Aids line of RPG supplements; and Daniel Solis's Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple.
Scripture:Genesis 3:13-15, 2 Kings 6:15-17, Luke 8:26-31, Ephesians 6:10-13.]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:14:00Episode 109 - Visual Character Descriptions, Part 2 (with Krissi Woodward)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-109-visual-character-descriptions-part-2-with-krissi-woodward/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-109-visual-character-descriptions-part-2-with-krissi-woodward/#commentsTue, 16 May 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-109-visual-character-descriptions-part-2-with-krissi-woodward/We continue our discussion with Krissi Woodward about clothing and visual character descriptions! We pick back up with discussions of cultural and vocational costume, and move on to the effects of technology on what people wear and look like. We then spend a fair bit of time on modesty (and fair warning: While we don’t get obscene, this section does get fairly frank about the human body, so if you’re particularly sensitive keep that in mind.) Then after a few more notes (and mention of the Aghori, who are absolutely fascinating; Poche Posh and ]]>We continue our discussion with Krissi Woodward about clothing and visual character descriptions! We pick back up with discussions of cultural and vocational costume, and move on to the effects of technology on what people wear and look like. We then spend a fair bit of time on modesty (and fair warning: While we don't get obscene, this section does get fairly frank about the human body, so if you're particularly sensitive keep that in mind.) Then after a few more notes (and mention of the Aghori, who are absolutely fascinating; Poche Posh and Soviet denim smugglers; and underground Korean tattoos), we quickly mention other aspects of appearance. We then spend some time on what clothing can and should mean for Christians, and how God sees past what we wear into our very hearts. Finally, we wrap up with some useful and recommended tools and means for getting artwork or minis done for your character!

]]>We continue our discussion with Krissi Woodward about clothing and visual character descriptions! We pick back up with discussions of cultural and vocational costume, and ...
We continue our discussion with Krissi Woodward about clothing and visual character descriptions! We pick back up with discussions of cultural and vocational costume, and move on to the effects of technology on what people wear and look like. We then spend a fair bit of time on modesty (and fair warning: While we don't get obscene, this section does get fairly frank about the human body, so if you're particularly sensitive keep that in mind.) Then after a few more notes (and mention of the Aghori, who are absolutely fascinating; Poche Posh and Soviet denim smugglers; and underground Korean tattoos), we quickly mention other aspects of appearance. We then spend some time on what clothing can and should mean for Christians, and how God sees past what we wear into our very hearts. Finally, we wrap up with some useful and recommended tools and means for getting artwork or minis done for your character!
Tools and sites mentioned: Heromachine; Hero Forge; DeviantArt; ArtStation; Emergency Commissions on Tumblr; and the /r/ArmoredWomen, /r/ReasonableFantasy, and /r/ImaginaryCharacters subreddits.
Scripture: Genesis 3:6-7, Exodus 28:15-21, Isaiah 53:2, James 2:1-4]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:43:09Episode 109 - Visual Character Descriptions, Part 1 (with Krissi Woodward)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-109-visual-character-descriptions-part-1-with-krissi-woodward/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-109-visual-character-descriptions-part-1-with-krissi-woodward/#commentsTue, 02 May 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-109-visual-character-descriptions-part-1-with-krissi-woodward/Krissi Woodward—Grant’s wife and costume designer—joins us once again to discuss visual character descriptions in our game, and especially clothing! We have a couple of announcements related to our Weekend Reading series and our Patreon question rewards. Then we tackle a question from Patreon backer gfactor, who asks about electronic apps or devices which might enhance the tabletop play experience.

With that handled, we begin breaking down the importance of describing character appearances in our games. Grant leads off with a potentially controversial statement about character portraits and minis, which leads us into why players are often hesitant to delve into this at all. Then we go deep into the rabbit hole [...]

]]>Krissi Woodward—Grant's wife and costume designer—joins us once again to discuss visual character descriptions in our game, and especially clothing! We have a couple of announcements related to our Weekend Reading series and our Patreon question rewards. Then we tackle a question from Patreon backer gfactor, who asks about electronic apps or devices which might enhance the tabletop play experience.

With that handled, we begin breaking down the importance of describing character appearances in our games. Grant leads off with a potentially controversial statement about character portraits and minis, which leads us into why players are often hesitant to delve into this at all. Then we go deep into the rabbit hole with Krissi, talking about clothing (and other elements of our appearance) in a conversation that went so long, we had to split it into two parts!

]]>Krissi WoodwardGrant's wife and costume designerjoins us once again to discuss visual character descriptions in our game, and especially clothing! We have a couple of ...
Krissi Woodward—Grant's wife and costume designer—joins us once again to discuss visual character descriptions in our game, and especially clothing! We have a couple of announcements related to our Weekend Reading series and our Patreon question rewards. Then we tackle a question from Patreon backer gfactor, who asks about electronic apps or devices which might enhance the tabletop play experience.
With that handled, we begin breaking down the importance of describing character appearances in our games. Grant leads off with a potentially controversial statement about character portraits and minis, which leads us into why players are often hesitant to delve into this at all. Then we go deep into the rabbit hole with Krissi, talking about clothing (and other elements of our appearance) in a conversation that went so long, we had to split it into two parts!
Mentioned in this half of the episode: Inkarnate and Worldpainter.
Scripture: Genesis 3:6-7, Exodus 28:15-21, Isaiah 53:2, James 2:1-4]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:46:37Episode 108 - The Third Commandment (Ten Commandments, Part 3)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-108-the-third-commandment-ten-commandments-part-3/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-108-the-third-commandment-ten-commandments-part-3/#commentsTue, 18 Apr 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesTen Commandmentshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-108-the-third-commandment-ten-commandments-part-3/Grant, Peter, and Jenny return to discuss the Third Commandment! There’s quite a lot of banter and catching up to do first, of course, and we banter about illness, the forthcoming Amonkhet set in Magic: The Gathering, Snafu Brewing and TRAPPIST-1, and more. We also have a doozy of a question from Patreon backer Richard, who asks us for our favorite stories from the table. Thankfully, we get to respond in kind! (This also gives us an excuse to mention Tooning Japanese in passing, by the way. [...]]]>Grant, Peter, and Jenny return to discuss the Third Commandment! There's quite a lot of banter and catching up to do first, of course, and we banter about illness, the forthcoming Amonkhet set in Magic: The Gathering, Snafu Brewing and TRAPPIST-1, and more. We also have a doozy of a question from Patreon backer Richard, who asks us for our favorite stories from the table. Thankfully, we get to respond in kind! (This also gives us an excuse to mention Tooning Japanese in passing, by the way.)

Once we actually get on topic, we start our conversation about the Third Commandment with Scripture and the Roman Catholic catechism on this verse. We also discuss Jewish traditions involving the name of God (and the etymology of certain names.) After that analysis, we move on to using these and related concepts in our games: The power of names, taking oaths, and vulgarity. Finally, we wrap up with a very brief discussion of how to handle unnecessary and uncomfortable vulgarity at the table.

]]>Grant, Peter, and Jenny return to discuss the Third Commandment! There's quite a lot of banter and catching up to do first, of course, and ...
Grant, Peter, and Jenny return to discuss the Third Commandment! There's quite a lot of banter and catching up to do first, of course, and we banter about illness, the forthcoming Amonkhet set in Magic: The Gathering, Snafu Brewing and TRAPPIST-1, and more. We also have a doozy of a question from Patreon backer Richard, who asks us for our favorite stories from the table. Thankfully, we get to respond in kind! (This also gives us an excuse to mention Tooning Japanese in passing, by the way.)
Once we actually get on topic, we start our conversation about the Third Commandment with Scripture and the Roman Catholic catechism on this verse. We also discuss Jewish traditions involving the name of God (and the etymology of certain names.) After that analysis, we move on to using these and related concepts in our games: The power of names, taking oaths, and vulgarity. Finally, we wrap up with a very brief discussion of how to handle unnecessary and uncomfortable vulgarity at the table.
Also mentioned in this episode: Roger Zelazny's Jack of Shadows; and Thomas' comments on Episode 107 via Facebook.
Scripture: Exodus 20:7, Exodus 20:24, Matthew 5:33-37, James 5:12]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:03:37Episode 107 - Relics and Holy Itemshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-107-relics-and-holy-items/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-107-relics-and-holy-items/#commentsTue, 04 Apr 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-107-relics-and-holy-items/This episode, we tackle a surprisingly complicated topic: Relics and holy items! Grant’s out sick, what with his entire house having been struck by plagues of all sorts, so Jenny and Peter have the mics to themselves. For our Patreon question, they get handed a very tough question from Jared—”What was the most rewarding campaign you ever ran or played in?”—which takes a bit to answer. Then after our Scripture, it’s on to our main topic. We discuss Catholic and Orthodox traditions around relics to lay some groundwork before moving on to talking about the use of relics in our own games: How they might work in certain sorts of settings; what to do with them; and what to do about fakes. Also, a helpful warning: Never go full Blackleaf.

]]>This episode, we tackle a surprisingly complicated topic: Relics and holy items! Grant's out sick, what with his entire house having been struck by plagues of all sorts, so Jenny and Peter have the mics to themselves. For our Patreon question, they get handed a very tough question from Jared—"What was the most rewarding campaign you ever ran or played in?"—which takes a bit to answer. Then after our Scripture, it's on to our main topic. We discuss Catholic and Orthodox traditions around relics to lay some groundwork before moving on to talking about the use of relics in our own games: How they might work in certain sorts of settings; what to do with them; and what to do about fakes. Also, a helpful warning: Never go full Blackleaf.

]]>This episode, we tackle a surprisingly complicated topic: Relics and holy items! Grant's out sick, what with his entire house having been struck by plagues ...
This episode, we tackle a surprisingly complicated topic: Relics and holy items! Grant's out sick, what with his entire house having been struck by plagues of all sorts, so Jenny and Peter have the mics to themselves. For our Patreon question, they get handed a very tough question from Jared—"What was the most rewarding campaign you ever ran or played in?"—which takes a bit to answer. Then after our Scripture, it's on to our main topic. We discuss Catholic and Orthodox traditions around relics to lay some groundwork before moving on to talking about the use of relics in our own games: How they might work in certain sorts of settings; what to do with them; and what to do about fakes. Also, a helpful warning: Never go full Blackleaf.
Mentioned in this episode: Two Atlas Obscura articles, "Only the Vatican Has More Christian Relics Than Pittsburgh" and "The Practicalities of Transporting a 400-Year-Old Heart"; and The Fellowship of the Talisman by Clifford D. Simak.
Scripture: Exodus 25:10-11, 2 Kings 13:20-21, Matthew 27:35]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:45:13Episode 106 - Limiting Evilhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-106-limiting-evil/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-106-limiting-evil/#commentsTue, 21 Mar 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-106-limiting-evil/After over two years as a two-person show, Saving the Game is proud to announce our new permanent host Jenny Dickson! This is her first episode, and she’ll be joining us going forward.

The episode starts off with an introduction of Jenny and then moves into our Patreon question about hacks and drifts, and then the three of us dig into our main topic: limiting the evil of villains in games. We cover why to do it, how to do it, and what effects it has on the story you’re telling.

]]>After over two years as a two-person show, Saving the Game is proud to announce our new permanent host Jenny Dickson! This is her first episode, and she'll be joining us going forward.

The episode starts off with an introduction of Jenny and then moves into our Patreon question about hacks and drifts, and then the three of us dig into our main topic: limiting the evil of villains in games. We cover why to do it, how to do it, and what effects it has on the story you're telling.

]]>After over two years as a two-person show, Saving the Game is proud to announce our new permanent host Jenny Dickson! This is her first ...
After over two years as a two-person show, Saving the Game is proud to announce our new permanent host Jenny Dickson! This is her first episode, and she'll be joining us going forward.
The episode starts off with an introduction of Jenny and then moves into our Patreon question about hacks and drifts, and then the three of us dig into our main topic: limiting the evil of villains in games. We cover why to do it, how to do it, and what effects it has on the story you're telling.
Scripture: Exodus 5:6-8, Judges 3:13-14, Revelation 3:14-19
Links: High-Heel-Face Turn on tvtropes.orgStar Wars in TravellerThe FugitiveEpisode 17: Lines and Veils]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:59:51Episode 105 - Explorationhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-105-exploration/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-105-exploration/#commentsTue, 07 Mar 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-105-exploration/Grant and Peter are back to talk about exploration as a major feature in RPGs! First, a bit of sad news from Peter; then, we spend a bit of time talking about Grant’s Fellowship game, and how strange the system feels to him. We also answer a fun question from Patreon backer Jim, who asks what little, almost insignificant feature factors into our decision-making when we buy cars.

After our Scripture readings, we delve deep into our main topic, discussing why exploration is fun and why it matters; what sorts of characters might be motivated to explore unknown territory; how to set up random or incidental encounters so that they don’t feel artificial; a brief discussion of hex crawls; and sources of inspiration for wilderness and exploration encounters.

This episode topic was selected by our Patreon supporters, who bring you this show every two weeks and help us make the show better. If you’d like to help support us on Patreon,

]]>Grant and Peter are back to talk about exploration as a major feature in RPGs! First, a bit of sad news from Peter; then, we spend a bit of time talking about Grant's Fellowship game, and how strange the system feels to him. We also answer a fun question from Patreon backer Jim, who asks what little, almost insignificant feature factors into our decision-making when we buy cars.

After our Scripture readings, we delve deep into our main topic, discussing why exploration is fun and why it matters; what sorts of characters might be motivated to explore unknown territory; how to set up random or incidental encounters so that they don't feel artificial; a brief discussion of hex crawls; and sources of inspiration for wilderness and exploration encounters.

This episode topic was selected by our Patreon supporters, who bring you this show every two weeks and help us make the show better. If you'd like to help support us on Patreon, you can do so here. Thanks, folks—we really appreciate your support!

]]>Grant and Peter are back to talk about exploration as a major feature in RPGs! First, a bit of sad news from Peter; then, we ...
Grant and Peter are back to talk about exploration as a major feature in RPGs! First, a bit of sad news from Peter; then, we spend a bit of time talking about Grant's Fellowship game, and how strange the system feels to him. We also answer a fun question from Patreon backer Jim, who asks what little, almost insignificant feature factors into our decision-making when we buy cars.
After our Scripture readings, we delve deep into our main topic, discussing why exploration is fun and why it matters; what sorts of characters might be motivated to explore unknown territory; how to set up random or incidental encounters so that they don't feel artificial; a brief discussion of hex crawls; and sources of inspiration for wilderness and exploration encounters.
This episode topic was selected by our Patreon supporters, who bring you this show every two weeks and help us make the show better. If you'd like to help support us on Patreon, you can do so here. Thanks, folks—we really appreciate your support!
Mentioned in this episode: The /r/ImaginaryLandscapes subreddit; Ball's Pyramid; the SCP Foundation wiki; and Cordyceps fungi.
Scripture: Genesis 13:14-15, Mark 16:15]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:51:18Episode 104 - Naming and Renaminghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-104-naming-and-renaming/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-104-naming-and-renaming/#commentsTue, 21 Feb 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-104-naming-and-renaming/In this episode, Grant and Peter discuss naming characters and renaming characters! We kick things off with a conversation about the games Grant’s playing right now—Pugmire, Fellowship, and No Thank You, Evil!—and attempt to answer a question from Patreon backer Rich about play-by-post gaming. Then after quite a lot of Scripture (and really, it’s a small sampling of what could have been used for this particular topic) we start in on the difficult art of naming your character: Why it’s so difficult, what goes into a character’s name, and different ways to come up with the right name. Then, we discuss renaming character [...]]]>In this episode, Grant and Peter discuss naming characters and renaming characters! We kick things off with a conversation about the games Grant's playing right now—Pugmire, Fellowship, and No Thank You, Evil!—and attempt to answer a question from Patreon backer Rich about play-by-post gaming. Then after quite a lot of Scripture (and really, it's a small sampling of what could have been used for this particular topic) we start in on the difficult art of naming your character: Why it's so difficult, what goes into a character's name, and different ways to come up with the right name. Then, we discuss renaming characters—an underutilized dramatic tool for both players and game-masters. That segues into additional names for characters, and when these new names might be added. Finally, we wrap up with a brief discussion on the weight of a name.

The sermon Grant mentioned as inspiring this topic—and a much weightier topic to come—can be found here. Again, we strongly recommend listening to it! Special thanks to Rev. Justin Cazel.

]]>In this episode, Grant and Peter discuss naming charactersand renaming characters! We kick things off with a conversation about the games Grant's playing right nowPugmire, ...
In this episode, Grant and Peter discuss naming characters and renaming characters! We kick things off with a conversation about the games Grant's playing right now—Pugmire, Fellowship, and No Thank You, Evil!—and attempt to answer a question from Patreon backer Rich about play-by-post gaming. Then after quite a lot of Scripture (and really, it's a small sampling of what could have been used for this particular topic) we start in on the difficult art of naming your character: Why it's so difficult, what goes into a character's name, and different ways to come up with the right name. Then, we discuss renaming characters—an underutilized dramatic tool for both players and game-masters. That segues into additional names for characters, and when these new names might be added. Finally, we wrap up with a brief discussion on the weight of a name.
The sermon Grant mentioned as inspiring this topic—and a much weightier topic to come—can be found here. Again, we strongly recommend listening to it! Special thanks to Rev. Justin Cazel.
Scripture: Genesis 17:3-6, Genesis 41:50-52, Isaiah 62:1-2, Matthew 1:20-21, Matthew 16:17-18, Acts 13:6-11, Revelation 2:17]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:51:21Episode 103 - Fitness for Gamers, Part 2 (with Kimi, Chris and Krissi)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-103-fitness-for-gamers-part-2-with-kimi-chris-and-krissi/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-103-fitness-for-gamers-part-2-with-kimi-chris-and-krissi/#commentsTue, 07 Feb 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-103-fitness-for-gamers-part-2-with-kimi-chris-and-krissi/We’ve got THREE guests crowding around the mics this week to continue with part two of a special episode on personal fitness! Kimi (cosplayer, tabletop gaming podcaster, weightlifter, gym owner, and former personal trainer), Chris (media professional, tabletop gaming podcaster, filmmaker, and former personal trainer) and Krissi (gamer, stay-at-home mom, and licensed Zumba instructor) all join us to put personal fitness into a gamer-friendly context. They (along with Grant and Peter) discuss nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, willpower, and more!

Be sure to catch the first half of this episode if you missed it, where we talked about our own fitness journeys, why exercise and physical health matter, unfocused and focused exercise, and setting goals.

Special thanks to all our guests for joining us for a long recording session and providing so [...]

]]>We’ve got THREE guests crowding around the mics this week to continue with part two of a special episode on personal fitness! Kimi (cosplayer, tabletop gaming podcaster, weightlifter, gym owner, and former personal trainer), Chris (media professional, tabletop gaming podcaster, filmmaker, and former personal trainer) and Krissi (gamer, stay-at-home mom, and licensed Zumba instructor) all join us to put personal fitness into a gamer-friendly context. They (along with Grant and Peter) discuss nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, willpower, and more!

Be sure to catch the first half of this episode if you missed it, where we talked about our own fitness journeys, why exercise and physical health matter, unfocused and focused exercise, and setting goals.

Special thanks to all our guests for joining us for a long recording session and providing so much helpful information. For more information about our guests and their projects, as well as where to find them online:

]]>Weve got THREE guests crowding around the mics this week to continue with part two of a special episode on personal fitness!Kimi (cosplayer, tabletop gaming ...
We’ve got THREE guests crowding around the mics this week to continue with part two of a special episode on personal fitness! Kimi (cosplayer, tabletop gaming podcaster, weightlifter, gym owner, and former personal trainer), Chris (media professional, tabletop gaming podcaster, filmmaker, and former personal trainer) and Krissi (gamer, stay-at-home mom, and licensed Zumba instructor) all join us to put personal fitness into a gamer-friendly context. They (along with Grant and Peter) discuss nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, willpower, and more!
Be sure to catch the first half of this episode if you missed it, where we talked about our own fitness journeys, why exercise and physical health matter, unfocused and focused exercise, and setting goals.
Special thanks to all our guests for joining us for a long recording session and providing so much helpful information. For more information about our guests and their projects, as well as where to find them online:

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3, Isaiah 40:31, Colossians 3:23, Philippians 2:1-4]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:02:00Episode 103 - Fitness for Gamers, Part 1 (with Kimi, Chris, and Krissi)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-103-fitness-for-gamers-part-1-with-kimi-chris-and-krissi/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-103-fitness-for-gamers-part-1-with-kimi-chris-and-krissi/#commentsTue, 24 Jan 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-103-fitness-for-gamers-part-1-with-kimi-chris-and-krissi/We’ve got THREE guests crowding around the mics this week for part one of a special episode on personal fitness! Kimi (cosplayer, tabletop gaming podcaster, weightlifter, gym owner, and former personal trainer), Chris (media professional, tabletop gaming podcaster, filmmaker, and former personal trainer) and Krissi (gamer, stay-at-home mom, and licensed Zumba instructor) all join us to put personal fitness into a gamer-friendly context. They (along with Grant and Peter) discuss their own fitness journeys, why exercise and physical health matter, unfocused and focused exercise, and setting goals. Plus, Grant and Peter slip through time and answer a question from Patreon backer Doug Hagler, who asks what system we’d use to run a post-apocalyptic campaign.

Be sure to catch the second half of this episode as well, when we’ll talk about nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, willpower, and more!

Special thanks to all our guests for joining us for a long [...]

]]>We've got THREE guests crowding around the mics this week for part one of a special episode on personal fitness! Kimi (cosplayer, tabletop gaming podcaster, weightlifter, gym owner, and former personal trainer), Chris (media professional, tabletop gaming podcaster, filmmaker, and former personal trainer) and Krissi (gamer, stay-at-home mom, and licensed Zumba instructor) all join us to put personal fitness into a gamer-friendly context. They (along with Grant and Peter) discuss their own fitness journeys, why exercise and physical health matter, unfocused and focused exercise, and setting goals. Plus, Grant and Peter slip through time and answer a question from Patreon backer Doug Hagler, who asks what system we'd use to run a post-apocalyptic campaign.

Be sure to catch the second half of this episode as well, when we'll talk about nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, willpower, and more!

Special thanks to all our guests for joining us for a long recording session and providing so much helpful information. For more information about our guests and their projects, as well as where to find them online:

]]>We've got THREE guests crowding around the mics this week for part one of a special episode on personal fitness!Kimi (cosplayer, tabletop gaming podcaster, weightlifter, ...
We've got THREE guests crowding around the mics this week for part one of a special episode on personal fitness! Kimi (cosplayer, tabletop gaming podcaster, weightlifter, gym owner, and former personal trainer), Chris (media professional, tabletop gaming podcaster, filmmaker, and former personal trainer) and Krissi (gamer, stay-at-home mom, and licensed Zumba instructor) all join us to put personal fitness into a gamer-friendly context. They (along with Grant and Peter) discuss their own fitness journeys, why exercise and physical health matter, unfocused and focused exercise, and setting goals. Plus, Grant and Peter slip through time and answer a question from Patreon backer Doug Hagler, who asks what system we'd use to run a post-apocalyptic campaign.
Be sure to catch the second half of this episode as well, when we'll talk about nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, willpower, and more!
Special thanks to all our guests for joining us for a long recording session and providing so much helpful information. For more information about our guests and their projects, as well as where to find them online:

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3, Isaiah 40:31, Colossians 3:23, Philippians 2:1-4]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:56:50Episode 102 - Adapting to the Dicehttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-102-adapting-to-the-dice/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-102-adapting-to-the-dice/#commentsTue, 10 Jan 2017 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-102-adapting-to-the-dice/Happy New Year! Grant and Peter are back to talk about … dice?! After a couple of minor announcements and housekeeping notes, we list off some of the games we’d really like to try to play in 2017. We also tackle a Patreon question from Jim, who asks us about handling combat in theatre-of-the-mind games (or for visually-impaired gamers, like the Going In Blind podcast.) Our main topic isn’t so much about dice as reacting to the dice, and handling the unexpected results they can give us while keeping a consistent narration—even if it leads campaigns in strange and unexpected directions.

]]>Happy New Year! Grant and Peter are back to talk about ... dice?! After a couple of minor announcements and housekeeping notes, we list off some of the games we'd really like to try to play in 2017. We also tackle a Patreon question from Jim, who asks us about handling combat in theatre-of-the-mind games (or for visually-impaired gamers, like the Going In Blind podcast.) Our main topic isn't so much about dice as reacting to the dice, and handling the unexpected results they can give us while keeping a consistent narration—even if it leads campaigns in strange and unexpected directions.

]]>Happy New Year! Grant and Peter are back to talk about ... dice?! After a couple of minor announcements and housekeeping notes, we list off ...
Happy New Year! Grant and Peter are back to talk about ... dice?! After a couple of minor announcements and housekeeping notes, we list off some of the games we'd really like to try to play in 2017. We also tackle a Patreon question from Jim, who asks us about handling combat in theatre-of-the-mind games (or for visually-impaired gamers, like the Going In Blind podcast.) Our main topic isn't so much about dice as reacting to the dice, and handling the unexpected results they can give us while keeping a consistent narration—even if it leads campaigns in strange and unexpected directions.
Games we mentioned wanting to play in 2017: Unknown Armies, 3rd Edition; Pillar of Fire; A Scoundrel in the Deep; Feng Shui, 2nd Edition; Dogs in the Vineyard; DramaSystem; GUMSHOE. Also mentioned: The One Shot Podcast and the Party of One Podcast.
Scripture: Proverbs 16:9, Leviticus 16:6-10, Romans 8:28]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:00:50Episode 101 - Playing Supernatural Creatureshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-101-playing-supernatural-creatures/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-101-playing-supernatural-creatures/#commentsTue, 27 Dec 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-101-playing-supernatural-creatures/Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Grant and Peter sit down to tackle a topic selected by our voting Patreon supporters: Playing supernatural creatures! First, though, we spend quite a lot of time on a serious problem that cropped up in Grant’s Pugmire game—a case where a player had a very bad reaction to the previous session’s events. Then we tackle a question from Patreon supporter (and host of the Retro Rewind Podcast) Francisco Ruiz, who asks about games centered around specific holidays. Finally, it’s our main topic: How to play supernatural creatures, We talk briefly about whether Christians should do so at all; then we discuss ways to make that more interesting, especially regarding the traditional weaknesses such creatures typically have.

]]>Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Grant and Peter sit down to tackle a topic selected by our voting Patreon supporters: Playing supernatural creatures! First, though, we spend quite a lot of time on a serious problem that cropped up in Grant's Pugmire game—a case where a player had a very bad reaction to the previous session's events. Then we tackle a question from Patreon supporter (and host of the Retro Rewind Podcast) Francisco Ruiz, who asks about games centered around specific holidays. Finally, it's our main topic: How to play supernatural creatures, We talk briefly about whether Christians should do so at all; then we discuss ways to make that more interesting, especially regarding the traditional weaknesses such creatures typically have.

]]>Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Grant and Peter sit down to tackle a topic selected by our voting Patreon supporters: Playing supernatural creatures! First, ...
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Grant and Peter sit down to tackle a topic selected by our voting Patreon supporters: Playing supernatural creatures! First, though, we spend quite a lot of time on a serious problem that cropped up in Grant's Pugmire game—a case where a player had a very bad reaction to the previous session's events. Then we tackle a question from Patreon supporter (and host of the Retro Rewind Podcast) Francisco Ruiz, who asks about games centered around specific holidays. Finally, it's our main topic: How to play supernatural creatures, We talk briefly about whether Christians should do so at all; then we discuss ways to make that more interesting, especially regarding the traditional weaknesses such creatures typically have.
Mentioned in this episode: Gullah; Pugmire.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:13, Romans 14:1-4]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:50:20Bonus Episode 9 - The Centurion (by Rev. Bob Lawrence)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-9-the-centurion-by-rev-bob-lawrence/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-9-the-centurion-by-rev-bob-lawrence/#commentsWed, 21 Dec 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-9-the-centurion-by-rev-bob-lawrence/Grant presents a very special Christmas bonus episode: A reading of a unique sermon given on Christmas Day, 1983, by Rev. Bob Lawrence of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC.

]]>Grant presents a very special Christmas bonus episode: A reading of a unique sermon given on Christmas Day, 1983, by Rev. Bob Lawrence of Fourth ...
Grant presents a very special Christmas bonus episode: A reading of a unique sermon given on Christmas Day, 1983, by Rev. Bob Lawrence of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC.
Music: "Greensleeves" and "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence", performed by Andrew Remillard.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:21:51Episode 100 - History and Historical Mysteryhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-100-history-and-historical-mystery/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-100-history-and-historical-mystery/#commentsTue, 13 Dec 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesNewshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-100-history-and-historical-mystery/We’ve finally reached the hundred-episode milestone! Our heartfelt thanks to all our listeners, past hosts and guest hosts, and Patreon backers; you’ve all helped make this podcast special. We look forward to the next hundred-plus episodes!

This episode, Grant and Peter celebrate reaching STG 100 and call out our new theme music (by James Opie, of Nihilore.com). Then, we plug our annual charity drive for The Bodhana Group; discuss some forthcoming changes to our Patreon; and Grant reviews Big Fandom Greenville. After that, we’ve got our Patreon question! This one’s from Jared, who asks “What game systems that you have played have felt the most compatible with spiritual growth, and what game systems that you have played have felt the least compatible with spiritual growth?R [...]

]]>We've finally reached the hundred-episode milestone! Our heartfelt thanks to all our listeners, past hosts and guest hosts, and Patreon backers; you've all helped make this podcast special. We look forward to the next hundred-plus episodes!

This episode, Grant and Peter celebrate reaching STG 100 and call out our new theme music (by James Opie, of Nihilore.com). Then, we plug our annual charity drive for The Bodhana Group; discuss some forthcoming changes to our Patreon; and Grant reviews Big Fandom Greenville. After that, we've got our Patreon question! This one's from Jared, who asks "What game systems that you have played have felt the most compatible with spiritual growth, and what game systems that you have played have felt the least compatible with spiritual growth?"

For our main topic, we discuss a worldbuilding problem—handling historical mysteries in fantasy or sci-fi settings where longevity and data retention risk negating the mystery altogether. That leads us into a larger discussion of what the historical record might be like in all sorts of fantastic settings, and what a game master should think about when determining what historical knowledge is available during their game.

]]>We've finally reached the hundred-episode milestone! Our heartfelt thanks to all our listeners, past hosts and guest hosts, and Patreon backers; you've all helped make ...
We've finally reached the hundred-episode milestone! Our heartfelt thanks to all our listeners, past hosts and guest hosts, and Patreon backers; you've all helped make this podcast special. We look forward to the next hundred-plus episodes!
This episode, Grant and Peter celebrate reaching STG 100 and call out our new theme music (by James Opie, of Nihilore.com). Then, we plug our annual charity drive for The Bodhana Group; discuss some forthcoming changes to our Patreon; and Grant reviews Big Fandom Greenville. After that, we've got our Patreon question! This one's from Jared, who asks "What game systems that you have played have felt the most compatible with spiritual growth, and what game systems that you have played have felt the least compatible with spiritual growth?"
For our main topic, we discuss a worldbuilding problem—handling historical mysteries in fantasy or sci-fi settings where longevity and data retention risk negating the mystery altogether. That leads us into a larger discussion of what the historical record might be like in all sorts of fantastic settings, and what a game master should think about when determining what historical knowledge is available during their game.
Scripture: Daniel 2:19-21; 2 Peter 3:8; John 1:1]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:57:21Episode 99 - Practical Advice for Running Gaming Events (with Mike Perna)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-99-practical-advice-for-running-gaming-events-with-mike-perna/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-99-practical-advice-for-running-gaming-events-with-mike-perna/#commentsTue, 29 Nov 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-99-practical-advice-for-running-gaming-events-with-mike-perna/Mike Perna of Innroads Ministries joins us at the appointed hour, to give our listeners some real, practical advice on running small gaming events for your church or community! First, though, we talk about a few other things, in no particular order: Our upcoming fundraiser for The Bodhana Group (keep an eye on our social media feeds for links to that!); the Game to Grow panel we hosted on spirituality in roleplaying games; players taking notes during games; the InSpectres game Grant just wrapped up; and Big Fandom Greenville (more on this next episode.)

We also tackle a great question from Patreon backer Doug, who asks "What, if anything, do you think is simply off-limits for a game? Is the answer different if we're talking you personally, or for gaming in general?" (This turned out to be surprisingly relevant to our main topic!)

]]>Mike Perna of Innroads Ministries joins us at the appointed hour, to give our listeners some real, practical advice on running small gaming events for ...
Mike Perna of Innroads Ministries joins us at the appointed hour, to give our listeners some real, practical advice on running small gaming events for your church or community! First, though, we talk about a few other things, in no particular order: Our upcoming fundraiser for The Bodhana Group (keep an eye on our social media feeds for links to that!); the Game to Grow panel we hosted on spirituality in roleplaying games; players taking notes during games; the InSpectres game Grant just wrapped up; and Big Fandom Greenville (more on this next episode.)
We also tackle a great question from Patreon backer Doug, who asks "What, if anything, do you think is simply off-limits for a game? Is the answer different if we're talking you personally, or for gaming in general?" (This turned out to be surprisingly relevant to our main topic!)
Also mentioned in this episode: A Game for Good Christians, STG 17, "Lines and Veils".
Scripture: Proverbs 16:3, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Luke 14:28]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:13:41Episode 98 - The Second Commandmenthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-98-the-second-commandment/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-98-the-second-commandment/#commentsTue, 15 Nov 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesTen Commandmentshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-98-the-second-commandment/Grant and Peter continue our ongoing Ten Commandments series with a look at the Second Commandment! First, though, Grant has a fair bit to say about InSpectres and Pugmire, and some lessons he’s learned from those games lately. Then we tackle a question from an anonymous Patreon backer, about transitioning into the game master role, and briefly discuss potential Patreon changes and our upcoming holiday charity drive. We also reiterate our call for your stories of harassment and ‘othering’ in the gaming hobby and industry. After all that, we finally get down to the Second Commandment (as well as a bit about how different Christian and Jewish traditions actually arrange and enumerate these ten commandments.)

Scripture:

]]>Grant and Peter continue our ongoing Ten Commandments series with a look at the Second Commandment! First, though, Grant has a fair bit to say about InSpectres and Pugmire, and some lessons he's learned from those games lately. Then we tackle a question from an anonymous Patreon backer, about transitioning into the game master role, and briefly discuss potential Patreon changes and our upcoming holiday charity drive. We also reiterate our call for your stories of harassment and 'othering' in the gaming hobby and industry. After all that, we finally get down to the Second Commandment (as well as a bit about how different Christian and Jewish traditions actually arrange and enumerate these ten commandments.)

]]>Grant and Peter continue our ongoing Ten Commandments series with a look at the Second Commandment! First, though, Grant has a fair bit to say ...
Grant and Peter continue our ongoing Ten Commandments series with a look at the Second Commandment! First, though, Grant has a fair bit to say about InSpectres and Pugmire, and some lessons he's learned from those games lately. Then we tackle a question from an anonymous Patreon backer, about transitioning into the game master role, and briefly discuss potential Patreon changes and our upcoming holiday charity drive. We also reiterate our call for your stories of harassment and 'othering' in the gaming hobby and industry. After all that, we finally get down to the Second Commandment (as well as a bit about how different Christian and Jewish traditions actually arrange and enumerate these ten commandments.)
Scripture: Exodus 20:4-6, Isaiah 55:8, Hosea 3:1, Revelation 9:20-21]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:44:13Episode 97 - Religious Villainshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-97-religious-villains/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-97-religious-villains/#commentsTue, 01 Nov 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-97-religious-villains/We’re back to talk about religious villains in your game! First, Grant discusses a successful Pugmire one-shot and his upcoming InSpectres game. Then, Grant and Peter put out a call for your stories of ‘othering’ in the hobby (which you can submit by email or through our contact page.) We spend a fair bit of time answering a very interesting question from Patreon backer Jim about rewarding good player behavior. And finally, we get to our main topic: Religious villains. We discuss creating religious, and even specifically Christian villains, as well as what makes those villains powerful and effective in our stories.

Mentioned in this episode:

]]>We're back to talk about religious villains in your game! First, Grant discusses a successful Pugmire one-shot and his upcoming InSpectres game. Then, Grant and Peter put out a call for your stories of 'othering' in the hobby (which you can submit by email or through our contact page.) We spend a fair bit of time answering a very interesting question from Patreon backer Jim about rewarding good player behavior. And finally, we get to our main topic: Religious villains. We discuss creating religious, and even specifically Christian villains, as well as what makes those villains powerful and effective in our stories.

]]>We're back to talk about religious villains in your game! First, Grant discusses a successful Pugmire one-shot and his upcoming InSpectres game. Then, Grant and ...
We're back to talk about religious villains in your game! First, Grant discusses a successful Pugmire one-shot and his upcoming InSpectres game. Then, Grant and Peter put out a call for your stories of 'othering' in the hobby (which you can submit by email or through our contact page.) We spend a fair bit of time answering a very interesting question from Patreon backer Jim about rewarding good player behavior. And finally, we get to our main topic: Religious villains. We discuss creating religious, and even specifically Christian villains, as well as what makes those villains powerful and effective in our stories.
Mentioned in this episode: Dan Carlin's Hardcore History, Ep. 48, "Prophets of Doom"; and—

Scripture: Isaiah 29:13-16, Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 23:13-15]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:56:52Episode 96 - The First Commandment (The Ten Commandments, Part 1)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-96-the-first-commandment-the-ten-commandments-part-1/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-96-the-first-commandment-the-ten-commandments-part-1/#commentsTue, 18 Oct 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesTen Commandmentshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-96-the-first-commandment-the-ten-commandments-part-1/Grant and Peter kick off a new, more theologically-oriented series this week! We’ll be looking at each of the Ten Commandments, and so of course we’re starting with the First Commandment. First, though, we answer a question from Patreon backer Richard Lorenz about other podcasts in the “geeky faith” genre (and specifically faith and roleplaying games—see the show notes for a full list of everything we mentioned!) We also spend a little time talking about Game to Grow. For our main topic, we talk about the importance and theological implications of the First Commandment, as well as some of its gaming implications.

]]>Grant and Peter kick off a new, more theologically-oriented series this week! We'll be looking at each of the Ten Commandments, and so of course we're starting with the First Commandment. First, though, we answer a question from Patreon backer Richard Lorenz about other podcasts in the "geeky faith" genre (and specifically faith and roleplaying games—see the show notes for a full list of everything we mentioned!) We also spend a little time talking about Game to Grow. For our main topic, we talk about the importance and theological implications of the First Commandment, as well as some of its gaming implications.

]]>Grant and Peter kick off a new, more theologically-oriented series this week! We'll be looking at each of the Ten Commandments, and so of course ...
Grant and Peter kick off a new, more theologically-oriented series this week! We'll be looking at each of the Ten Commandments, and so of course we're starting with the First Commandment. First, though, we answer a question from Patreon backer Richard Lorenz about other podcasts in the "geeky faith" genre (and specifically faith and roleplaying games—see the show notes for a full list of everything we mentioned!) We also spend a little time talking about Game to Grow. For our main topic, we talk about the importance and theological implications of the First Commandment, as well as some of its gaming implications.

Scripture: Exodus 3:15, Exodus 20:1-3, Matthew 22:37-38, Matthew 6:24]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:39:57Episode 95 - Hospitalityhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-95-hospitality/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-95-hospitality/#commentsTue, 04 Oct 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameBloghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-95-hospitality/It’s a relatively light episode for news, so Grant and Peter have more time for the Patreon question and the main topic. It turns out they need it. Hospitality is a big, old-school StG topic and the hosts look at it from a number of angles and discuss how it applies in games, in the world around us, and at our gaming tables.

]]>It's a relatively light episode for news, so Grant and Peter have more time for the Patreon question and the main topic. It turns out they need it. Hospitality is a big, old-school StG topic and the hosts look at it from a number of angles and discuss how it applies in games, in the world around us, and at our gaming tables.

]]>It's a relatively light episode for news, so Grant and Peter have more time for the Patreon question and the main topic. It turns out ...
It's a relatively light episode for news, so Grant and Peter have more time for the Patreon question and the main topic. It turns out they need it. Hospitality is a big, old-school StG topic and the hosts look at it from a number of angles and discuss how it applies in games, in the world around us, and at our gaming tables.

Links:
Episode 5: CharityJean Veljean and the Bishop of DigneWould You Hide a Jew From the Nazis?Denver church planning to build tiny homes]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:06:58Episode 94 - Epic Monstershttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-94-epic-monsters/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-94-epic-monsters/#commentsTue, 20 Sep 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-94-epic-monsters/Grant and Peter are back with a whole host of things to talk about! We start with a bit about the Pugmire campaign Grant just started playing in. Then we answer a surprisingly tricky question from Patreon backer Jim Nanban, who asks us for our “elevator pitch” for RPGs as a hobby. We remind everyone that Save Against Fear 2016 is coming up very quickly (and that you should go if at all possible!) And finally, we reach our main topic: Epic monsters. What do we mean by an “epic monster”? What role can and should they play in your campaign? Why do they sometimes fall flat? And what little tricks and additional details can you add in to really make them stand out to your players? And most importantly, [...]]]>Grant and Peter are back with a whole host of things to talk about! We start with a bit about the Pugmire campaign Grant just started playing in. Then we answer a surprisingly tricky question from Patreon backer Jim Nanban, who asks us for our "elevator pitch" for RPGs as a hobby. We remind everyone that Save Against Fear 2016 is coming up very quickly (and that you should go if at all possible!) And finally, we reach our main topic: Epic monsters. What do we mean by an "epic monster"? What role can and should they play in your campaign? Why do they sometimes fall flat? And what little tricks and additional details can you add in to really make them stand out to your players? And most importantly, what's the best story about an epic monster from your own gaming career?

]]>Grant and Peter are back with a whole host of things to talk about! We start with a bit about the Pugmire campaign Grant just ...
Grant and Peter are back with a whole host of things to talk about! We start with a bit about the Pugmire campaign Grant just started playing in. Then we answer a surprisingly tricky question from Patreon backer Jim Nanban, who asks us for our "elevator pitch" for RPGs as a hobby. We remind everyone that Save Against Fear 2016 is coming up very quickly (and that you should go if at all possible!) And finally, we reach our main topic: Epic monsters. What do we mean by an "epic monster"? What role can and should they play in your campaign? Why do they sometimes fall flat? And what little tricks and additional details can you add in to really make them stand out to your players? And most importantly, what's the best story about an epic monster from your own gaming career?

Scripture: Job 3:8, Revelation 13:1]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:49:17Episode 93: Anti-Heroeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-93-anti-heroes/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-93-anti-heroes/#commentsTue, 06 Sep 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-93-anti-heroes/Grant and Peter handle the first of two topic voted on by Patreon backers: Anti-Heroes. After tackling another great Patreon backer question, the hosts dive in, and as it turns out, this is a more complicated and controversial topic than you might think. The episode covers everything from Biblical figures to Sherlock Holmes to Rincewind to The Punisher with some advice (and cautionary notes) for gaming along the way.

]]>Grant and Peter handle the first of two topic voted on by Patreon backers: Anti-Heroes. After tackling another great Patreon backer question, the hosts dive in, and as it turns out, this is a more complicated and controversial topic than you might think. The episode covers everything from Biblical figures to Sherlock Holmes to Rincewind to The Punisher with some advice (and cautionary notes) for gaming along the way.

]]>Grant and Peter handle the first of two topic voted on by Patreon backers: Anti-Heroes. After tackling another great Patreon backer question, the hosts dive ...
Grant and Peter handle the first of two topic voted on by Patreon backers: Anti-Heroes. After tackling another great Patreon backer question, the hosts dive in, and as it turns out, this is a more complicated and controversial topic than you might think. The episode covers everything from Biblical figures to Sherlock Holmes to Rincewind to The Punisher with some advice (and cautionary notes) for gaming along the way.

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:59:13Episode 92 - Generalists vs Specialistshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/stg-92-generalists-vs-specialists/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/stg-92-generalists-vs-specialists/#commentsTue, 23 Aug 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/stg-92-generalists-vs-specialists/Grant’s back from Electric City Comic-Con 2016, and it was fantastic! We recap the show, including some specific people and organizations Grant wanted to specifically call out (check the full notes below for links.) Then Grant and Peter answer a Patreon backer question from Jim, who asks about demonstrating the difficulty of doing the right thing in game without being obvious or annoying about it. Finally, we cover our main topic: A discussion of generalist and specialist characters, with a focus on an issue that came up in the pre-game prep for our current D&D campaign.

]]>Grant's back from Electric City Comic-Con 2016, and it was fantastic! We recap the show, including some specific people and organizations Grant wanted to specifically call out (check the full notes below for links.) Then Grant and Peter answer a Patreon backer question from Jim, who asks about demonstrating the difficulty of doing the right thing in game without being obvious or annoying about it. Finally, we cover our main topic: A discussion of generalist and specialist characters, with a focus on an issue that came up in the pre-game prep for our current D&D campaign.

]]>Grant's back from Electric City Comic-Con 2016, and it was fantastic! We recap theshow, including some specific people and organizations Grant wanted to specifically call ...
Grant's back from Electric City Comic-Con 2016, and it was fantastic! We recap the show, including some specific people and organizations Grant wanted to specifically call out (check the full notes below for links.) Then Grant and Peter answer a Patreon backer question from Jim, who asks about demonstrating the difficulty of doing the right thing in game without being obvious or annoying about it. Finally, we cover our main topic: A discussion of generalist and specialist characters, with a focus on an issue that came up in the pre-game prep for our current D&D campaign.
Scripture: Exodus 31:1-6, Colossians 3:23-24
EC32016 specifically called out by Grant:

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:50:14Episode 91 - Creating a Moral Universe, Part 2 (with Kris & Katrina Ehrnman-Newton)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-91-creating-a-moral-universe-part-2-with-kris-katrina-ehrnman-newton/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-91-creating-a-moral-universe-part-2-with-kris-katrina-ehrnman-newton/#commentsTue, 09 Aug 2016 00:02:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-91-creating-a-moral-universe-part-2-with-kris-katrina-ehrnman-newton/(Part Two.) Kris and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton, hosts of the inimitable Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast (and its previous Gameable Pixar and Disney iterations), join us for an episode so monstrously huge we had to make it a two-parter! This time, we’re talking about design considerations for a “moral universe”—the assumptions built into a fictional setting about the consequences and decisions that affect characters’ moral efforts. We start with our Patreon backer question, this time about potential real dangers of gaming. Then across two episodes, we cover the design aspects of a moral universe in great detail, and wrap up talking about the challenges and opportunities these present at the gaming table. Thanks again, Kris and Katrina—we’re looking forward to joining you to talk about Saturday morning cartoons soon! [...]]]>(Part Two.) Kris and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton, hosts of the inimitable Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast (and its previous Gameable Pixar and Disney iterations), join us for an episode so monstrously huge we had to make it a two-parter! This time, we're talking about design considerations for a "moral universe"—the assumptions built into a fictional setting about the consequences and decisions that affect characters' moral efforts. We start with our Patreon backer question, this time about potential real dangers of gaming. Then across two episodes, we cover the design aspects of a moral universe in great detail, and wrap up talking about the challenges and opportunities these present at the gaming table. Thanks again, Kris and Katrina—we're looking forward to joining you to talk about Saturday morning cartoons soon!

]]>(Part Two.) Kris and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton, hosts of the inimitable Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast (and its previous Gameable Pixar and Disney iterations), join us for ...
(Part Two.) Kris and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton, hosts of the inimitable Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast (and its previous Gameable Pixar and Disney iterations), join us for an episode so monstrously huge we had to make it a two-parter! This time, we're talking about design considerations for a "moral universe"—the assumptions built into a fictional setting about the consequences and decisions that affect characters' moral efforts. We start with our Patreon backer question, this time about potential real dangers of gaming. Then across two episodes, we cover the design aspects of a moral universe in great detail, and wrap up talking about the challenges and opportunities these present at the gaming table. Thanks again, Kris and Katrina—we're looking forward to joining you to talk about Saturday morning cartoons soon!
If you missed the first half of Episode 91, click here to listen to part one.
Katrina previously joined us for Episode 58, "Prophecy", and Kris joined the three of us for Episode 67, "Breaking Canon". Grant and Peter have also appeared on the Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast for a bonus episode on The Prince of Egypt.
We hit on a wide and strange variety of other things this episode, including but not limited to: Depression Quest; Genesis 18; Batman; Longmire; The Crow; Mouse Guard; Jessica Jones; fighting hummingbirds; The Care Bears Movie; Sailor Moon; L.A. Confidential; Dogs in the Vineyard; Pillar of Fire; and a May 2016 blog post from Peter, "You Must Be This Treacherous To Ride The Story". Phew!
Scripture: Genesis 3:22-24, Amos 2:6-7, Matthew 5:44-45]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:55:42Episode 91 - Creating a Moral Universe, Part 1 (with Kris & Katrina Ehrnman-Newton)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-91-creating-a-moral-universe-part-1-with-kris-katrina-ehrnman-newton/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-91-creating-a-moral-universe-part-1-with-kris-katrina-ehrnman-newton/#commentsTue, 09 Aug 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-91-creating-a-moral-universe-part-1-with-kris-katrina-ehrnman-newton/(Part One.) Kris and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton, hosts of the inimitable Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast (and its previous Gameable Pixar and Disney iterations), join us for an episode so monstrously huge we had to make it a two-parter! This time, we’re talking about design considerations for a “moral universe”—the assumptions built into a fictional setting about the consequences and decisions that affect characters’ moral efforts. We start with our Patreon backer question, this time about potential real dangers of gaming. Then across two episodes, we cover the design aspects of a moral universe in great detail, and wrap up talking about the challenges and opportunities these present at the gaming table. Thanks again, Kris and Katrina—we’re looking forward to joining you to talk about Saturday morning cartoon [...]]]>(Part One.) Kris and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton, hosts of the inimitable Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast (and its previous Gameable Pixar and Disney iterations), join us for an episode so monstrously huge we had to make it a two-parter! This time, we're talking about design considerations for a "moral universe"—the assumptions built into a fictional setting about the consequences and decisions that affect characters' moral efforts. We start with our Patreon backer question, this time about potential real dangers of gaming. Then across two episodes, we cover the design aspects of a moral universe in great detail, and wrap up talking about the challenges and opportunities these present at the gaming table. Thanks again, Kris and Katrina—we're looking forward to joining you to talk about Saturday morning cartoons soon!

]]>(Part One.) Kris and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton, hosts of the inimitable Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast (and its previous Gameable Pixar and Disney iterations), join us for ...
(Part One.) Kris and Katrina Ehrnman-Newton, hosts of the inimitable Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast (and its previous Gameable Pixar and Disney iterations), join us for an episode so monstrously huge we had to make it a two-parter! This time, we're talking about design considerations for a "moral universe"—the assumptions built into a fictional setting about the consequences and decisions that affect characters' moral efforts. We start with our Patreon backer question, this time about potential real dangers of gaming. Then across two episodes, we cover the design aspects of a moral universe in great detail, and wrap up talking about the challenges and opportunities these present at the gaming table. Thanks again, Kris and Katrina—we're looking forward to joining you to talk about Saturday morning cartoons soon!
Once you're done with this half of Episode 91, click here to listen to part two
Katrina previously joined us for Episode 58, "Prophecy", and Kris joined the three of us for Episode 67, "Breaking Canon". Grant and Peter have also appeared on the Gameable Saturday Morning Podcast for a bonus episode on The Prince of Egypt.
We hit on a wide and strange variety of other things this episode, including but not limited to: Depression Quest; Genesis 18; Batman; Longmire; The Crow; Mouse Guard; Jessica Jones; fighting hummingbirds; The Care Bears Movie; Sailor Moon; L.A. Confidential; Dogs in the Vineyard; Pillar of Fire; and a May 2016 blog post from Peter, "You Must Be This Treacherous To Ride The Story". Phew!
Scripture: Genesis 3:22-24, Amos 2:6-7, Matthew 5:44-45]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:28:44Episode 90 - The First Council of Nicaea (Historical Heresies 5)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-90-the-first-council-of-nicaea-historical-heresies-5/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-90-the-first-council-of-nicaea-historical-heresies-5/#commentsTue, 26 Jul 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesHistorical Heresieshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-90-the-first-council-of-nicaea-historical-heresies-5/After answering a short, fun, and humorous Patreon backer question, Grant and Peter dig into one of the most fascinating, important, and gameable events in all of church history: the First Council of Nicaea. In addition to establishing a lot of church orthodoxy that has lasted to the present day, it also gave us the Nicene Creed, and it was a unique and fascinating event in the history of the world.

Note: Listeners wanting full context for this episode should listen to Episode 89, “Arianism” first, as it provides a lot of the background for the events we cover in this episode.

]]>After answering a short, fun, and humorous Patreon backer question, Grant and Peter dig into one of the most fascinating, important, and gameable events in all of church history: the First Council of Nicaea. In addition to establishing a lot of church orthodoxy that has lasted to the present day, it also gave us the Nicene Creed, and it was a unique and fascinating event in the history of the world.

Note: Listeners wanting full context for this episode should listen to Episode 89, "Arianism" first, as it provides a lot of the background for the events we cover in this episode.

]]>After answering a short, fun, and humorous Patreon backer question, Grant and Peter dig into one of the most fascinating, important, and gameable events in ...
After answering a short, fun, and humorous Patreon backer question, Grant and Peter dig into one of the most fascinating, important, and gameable events in all of church history: the First Council of Nicaea. In addition to establishing a lot of church orthodoxy that has lasted to the present day, it also gave us the Nicene Creed, and it was a unique and fascinating event in the history of the world.

Note: Listeners wanting full context for this episode should listen to Episode 89, "Arianism" first, as it provides a lot of the background for the events we cover in this episode.

Scripture: Isaiah 40:12, John 1:1-5]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:58:02Episode 89 - Arianism (Historical Heresies 4)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-89-arianism-historical-heresies-4/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-89-arianism-historical-heresies-4/#commentsTue, 12 Jul 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-89-arianism-historical-heresies-4/Grant and Peter Tackle an interesting Patreon supporter question about sandbox games and then move in to the very meaty and historically-important topic of Arianianism, a Christological heresy named after a guy who didn’t come up with it, and also responsible for the first council of Nicea.

]]>Grant and Peter Tackle an interesting Patreon supporter question about sandbox games and then move in to the very meaty and historically-important topic of Arianianism, a Christological heresy named after a guy who didn't come up with it, and also responsible for the first council of Nicea.

]]>Grant and Peter Tackle an interesting Patreon supporter question about sandbox games and then move in to the very meaty and historically-important topic of Arianianism, ...
Grant and Peter Tackle an interesting Patreon supporter question about sandbox games and then move in to the very meaty and historically-important topic of Arianianism, a Christological heresy named after a guy who didn't come up with it, and also responsible for the first council of Nicea.

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:50:33Episode 88 - Dark Dungeons and Lingering Pain (with Rev. Chris Ode)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-88-dark-dungeons-and-lingering-pain-with-rev-chris-ode/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-88-dark-dungeons-and-lingering-pain-with-rev-chris-ode/#commentsTue, 28 Jun 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-88-dark-dungeons-and-lingering-pain-with-rev-chris-ode/Rev. Chris Ode joins Peter and Grant in a very personal episode this week! Chris is a Lutheran pastor, and an actor and religious consultant for Zombie Orpheus Entertainment. We cover a lot of ground in this discussion, including: Zombie Orpheus’s new project, “Attacking the Darkness” (Kickstarting now!); ZOE’s “Dark Dungeons” movie (an adaptation of the original anti-D&D Chick tract); the lingering effects of Dark Dungeons and other anti-RPG material on the Church, gamers, and gaming; scapegoating; and our own Patreon campaign[...]]]>Rev. Chris Ode joins Peter and Grant in a very personal episode this week! Chris is a Lutheran pastor, and an actor and religious consultant for Zombie Orpheus Entertainment. We cover a lot of ground in this discussion, including: Zombie Orpheus's new project, "Attacking the Darkness" (Kickstarting now!); ZOE's "Dark Dungeons" movie (an adaptation of the original anti-D&D Chick tract); the lingering effects of Dark Dungeons and other anti-RPG material on the Church, gamers, and gaming; scapegoating; and our own Patreon campaign. (We're on Patreon now—check out the video for more information!)

]]>Rev. Chris Ode joins Peter and Grant in a very personal episode this week! Chris is a Lutheran pastor, and an actor and religious consultant ...
Rev. Chris Ode joins Peter and Grant in a very personal episode this week! Chris is a Lutheran pastor, and an actor and religious consultant for Zombie Orpheus Entertainment. We cover a lot of ground in this discussion, including: Zombie Orpheus's new project, "Attacking the Darkness" (Kickstarting now!); ZOE's "Dark Dungeons" movie (an adaptation of the original anti-D&D Chick tract); the lingering effects of Dark Dungeons and other anti-RPG material on the Church, gamers, and gaming; scapegoating; and our own Patreon campaign. (We're on Patreon now—check out the video for more information!)

Scripture: Isaiah 44:22, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 4:31-32]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:53:07Episode 87 - Healing and Injuryhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-87-healing-and-injury/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-87-healing-and-injury/#commentsTue, 14 Jun 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-87-healing-and-injury/Grant and Peter take a few moments to catch up on-air, and then discuss two exciting upcoming projects, Game to Grow and our upcoming Patreon campaign, before discussing a surprisingly meaty topic: Healing and Injury. The discussion that follows touches on both the gaming-related and spiritual aspects of healing and injury and also discusses why you should be sure to remember that hospitals exist as more than just hit point dispensers in your games.

]]>Grant and Peter take a few moments to catch up on-air, and then discuss two exciting upcoming projects, Game to Grow and our upcoming Patreon campaign, before discussing a surprisingly meaty topic: Healing and Injury. The discussion that follows touches on both the gaming-related and spiritual aspects of healing and injury and also discusses why you should be sure to remember that hospitals exist as more than just hit point dispensers in your games.

]]>Grant and Peter take a few moments to catch up on-air, and then discuss two exciting upcoming projects, Game to Grow and our upcoming Patreon ...
Grant and Peter take a few moments to catch up on-air, and then discuss two exciting upcoming projects, Game to Grow and our upcoming Patreon campaign, before discussing a surprisingly meaty topic: Healing and Injury. The discussion that follows touches on both the gaming-related and spiritual aspects of healing and injury and also discusses why you should be sure to remember that hospitals exist as more than just hit point dispensers in your games.
Links:
Game to GrowGameable Pixar PodcastJohn QSpoon Theory
Scripture: Isaiah 58:11, Matthew 11:2-6, Luke 14:1-6]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:55:29Episode 86 - Callings and Changeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-86-callings-and-changes/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-86-callings-and-changes/#commentsTue, 31 May 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-86-callings-and-changes/Grant and Peter discuss Peter’s new job, Grant’s new hobby, and the impact those sorts of life changes and callings can change the inner lives of your characters, how they can be reflected (or not) mechanically, and how they can affect the way your game progresses.

]]>Grant and Peter discuss Peter's new job, Grant's new hobby, and the impact those sorts of life changes and callings can change the inner lives of your characters, how they can be reflected (or not) mechanically, and how they can affect the way your game progresses.

]]>Grant and Peter discuss Peter's new job, Grant's new hobby, and the impact those sorts of life changes and callings can change the inner lives ...
Grant and Peter discuss Peter's new job, Grant's new hobby, and the impact those sorts of life changes and callings can change the inner lives of your characters, how they can be reflected (or not) mechanically, and how they can affect the way your game progresses.

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:56:23Episode 85 - Designing Fantasy Pantheons (with James Wyatt)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-85-designing-fantasy-pantheons-with-james-wyatt/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-85-designing-fantasy-pantheons-with-james-wyatt/#commentsTue, 17 May 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-85-designing-fantasy-pantheons-with-james-wyatt/Former Methodist minister and current Wizards of the Coast writer James Wyatt joins us to talk about designing pantheons for fantasy settings! James is a long-time D&D writer with a multitude of major credits, and he’s currently writing for the Magic: the Gathering creative team. That experience shows in this conversation, which covers the qualities of well-designed pantheons, their essential natures, and a multitude of design details relevant to your campaign world. We also talk about Shadows Over Innistrad and “The Lunarch Inquisition“, James’s recent story set there; ]]>Former Methodist minister and current Wizards of the Coast writer James Wyatt joins us to talk about designing pantheons for fantasy settings! James is a long-time D&D writer with a multitude of major credits, and he's currently writing for the Magic: the Gathering creative team. That experience shows in this conversation, which covers the qualities of well-designed pantheons, their essential natures, and a multitude of design details relevant to your campaign world. We also talk about Shadows Over Innistrad and "The Lunarch Inquisition", James's recent story set there; Plane Shift: Zendikar, which turns that Magic: the Gathering setting into a home for D&D 5th Edition adventures; the paradox of the Cross; our first "gaming curriculum" episode; and Thursten. We talk a lot about Thursten. Enjoy!

]]>Former Methodist minister and current Wizards of the Coast writer James Wyatt joins us to talk about designing pantheons for fantasy settings! James is a ...
Former Methodist minister and current Wizards of the Coast writer James Wyatt joins us to talk about designing pantheons for fantasy settings! James is a long-time D&D writer with a multitude of major credits, and he's currently writing for the Magic: the Gathering creative team. That experience shows in this conversation, which covers the qualities of well-designed pantheons, their essential natures, and a multitude of design details relevant to your campaign world. We also talk about Shadows Over Innistrad and "The Lunarch Inquisition", James's recent story set there; Plane Shift: Zendikar, which turns that Magic: the Gathering setting into a home for D&D 5th Edition adventures; the paradox of the Cross; our first "gaming curriculum" episode; and Thursten. We talk a lot about Thursten. Enjoy!

Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:17, Job 4:15-17, Acts 17:22-26]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:01:52Episode 84 - GM Problemshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-84-gm-problems/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-84-gm-problems/#commentsTue, 03 May 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-84-gm-problems/Grant and Peter discuss the root causes of some common GM problems such as over- or under- prepping, de-protagonizing, and issues with detail and offer their advice on how to address them.

]]>Grant and Peter discuss the root causes of some common GM problems such as over- or under- prepping, de-protagonizing, and issues with detail and offer ...
Grant and Peter discuss the root causes of some common GM problems such as over- or under- prepping, de-protagonizing, and issues with detail and offer their advice on how to address them.
Scripture: Proverbs 28:16, 2 Timothy 2:2

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:07:45Episode 83 - Personal Horror (with Greg Stolze)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-83-personal-horror-with-greg-stolze/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-83-personal-horror-with-greg-stolze/#commentsTue, 19 Apr 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-83-personal-horror-with-greg-stolze/Author and game designer Greg Stolze joins Grant and Peter to talk about Unknown Armies 3rd Edition, its Kickstarter, some of his other work, and personal-scale horror stories! We spend a lot of time talking about Unknown Armies—practically the whole episode, really—and Greg had plenty to say about personal horror and how Unknown Armies reflects that. In particular, we talk about how this sort of horror differs from the “cosmic horror” currently in vogue; how relationships can matter more in personal horror; stress and horror; and more. Enjoy!

Mentioned in this episode:

]]>Author and game designer Greg Stolze joins Grant and Peter to talk about Unknown Armies 3rd Edition, its Kickstarter, some of his other work, and personal-scale horror stories! We spend a lot of time talking about Unknown Armies—practically the whole episode, really—and Greg had plenty to say about personal horror and how Unknown Armies reflects that. In particular, we talk about how this sort of horror differs from the "cosmic horror" currently in vogue; how relationships can matter more in personal horror; stress and horror; and more. Enjoy!

]]>Author and game designer Greg Stolze joins Grant and Peter to talk about Unknown Armies 3rd Edition, its Kickstarter, some of his other work, and ...
Author and game designer Greg Stolze joins Grant and Peter to talk about Unknown Armies 3rd Edition, its Kickstarter, some of his other work, and personal-scale horror stories! We spend a lot of time talking about Unknown Armies—practically the whole episode, really—and Greg had plenty to say about personal horror and how Unknown Armies reflects that. In particular, we talk about how this sort of horror differs from the "cosmic horror" currently in vogue; how relationships can matter more in personal horror; stress and horror; and more. Enjoy!
Mentioned in this episode:

Scripture: Job 38:4-7, John 15:13, Colossians 3:23-25, Romans 3:10]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:14:11Episode 82 - Diasporahttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-82-diaspora/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-82-diaspora/#commentsTue, 05 Apr 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-82-diaspora/Not much in the way of news this week, so Grant and Peter get almost straight into the topic: diaspora, the scattering of a people from a common homeland and their desire to return. We discuss what, exactly makes a diaspora and how it can be used for world and character building.

]]>Not much in the way of news this week, so Grant and Peter get almost straight into the topic: diaspora, the scattering of a people from a common homeland and their desire to return. We discuss what, exactly makes a diaspora and how it can be used for world and character building.

]]>Not much in the way of news this week, so Grant and Peter get almost straight into the topic: diaspora, the scattering of a people ...
Not much in the way of news this week, so Grant and Peter get almost straight into the topic: diaspora, the scattering of a people from a common homeland and their desire to return. We discuss what, exactly makes a diaspora and how it can be used for world and character building.

Grant and Peter discuss some recent news, including Gamerati’s taking over of RPGpodcasts.com (a very good thing) and the upcoming Tavern Con and Electric City Comic Con, then get down to discussing the main topic: fear in RPGs. A lot of gaming groups have trouble handling fear in-game. Grant and Peter discuss some common reasons for the trouble and offer a number of potential solutions.

Grant and Peter discuss some recent news, including Gamerati's taking over of RPGpodcasts.com (a very good thing) and the upcoming Tavern Con and Electric City Comic Con, then get down to discussing the main topic: fear in RPGs. A lot of gaming groups have trouble handling fear in-game. Grant and Peter discuss some common reasons for the trouble and offer a number of potential solutions.

]]>Grant's second child is here and everybody is doing well!
Grant and Peter discuss some recent news, including Gamerati's taking over of RPGpodcasts.com (a very good ...
Grant's second child is here and everybody is doing well!
Grant and Peter discuss some recent news, including Gamerati's taking over of RPGpodcasts.com (a very good thing) and the upcoming Tavern Con and Electric City Comic Con, then get down to discussing the main topic: fear in RPGs. A lot of gaming groups have trouble handling fear in-game. Grant and Peter discuss some common reasons for the trouble and offer a number of potential solutions.

Grant and Peter break down the various advantages and challenges of using mechanical morality systems in your game and also dig into the reasons why such systems exist in the first place. In addition, we plug Tavern Con, Innroads Ministries in general and The MacGuffin Factory in particular, and Electric City Comic Con.

]]>Grant and Peter break down the various advantages and challenges of using mechanical morality systems in your game and also dig into the reasons why such systems exist in the first place. In addition, we plug Tavern Con, Innroads Ministries in general and The MacGuffin Factory in particular, and Electric City Comic Con.

]]>Grant and Peter break down the various advantages and challenges of using mechanical morality systems in your game and also dig into the reasons why ...
Grant and Peter break down the various advantages and challenges of using mechanical morality systems in your game and also dig into the reasons why such systems exist in the first place. In addition, we plug Tavern Con, Innroads Ministries in general and The MacGuffin Factory in particular, and Electric City Comic Con.

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:03:54Episode 79 - Character Advancementhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-79-character-advancement/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-79-character-advancement/#commentsTue, 23 Feb 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-79-character-advancement/Grant and Peter get together to discuss a topic that we often take for granted in our gaming experience: how our characters advance in gaming and what that says about our games. There’s some comparison to XCOM 2 (which Peter has been playing quite a bit of lately) but the conversation branches out from there pretty rapidly. This episode is also Peter’s first crack at production, so be kind if the audio is a bit rough.

]]>Grant and Peter get together to discuss a topic that we often take for granted in our gaming experience: how our characters advance in gaming and what that says about our games. There's some comparison to XCOM 2 (which Peter has been playing quite a bit of lately) but the conversation branches out from there pretty rapidly. This episode is also Peter's first crack at production, so be kind if the audio is a bit rough.

]]>Grant and Peter get together to discuss a topic that we often take for granted in our gaming experience: how our characters advance in gaming ...
Grant and Peter get together to discuss a topic that we often take for granted in our gaming experience: how our characters advance in gaming and what that says about our games. There's some comparison to XCOM 2 (which Peter has been playing quite a bit of lately) but the conversation branches out from there pretty rapidly. This episode is also Peter's first crack at production, so be kind if the audio is a bit rough.
Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:26, Ephesians 4:11-14]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:51:31Episode 78 - Listener Mailbag 1http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-78-listener-mailbag-1/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-78-listener-mailbag-1/#commentsTue, 09 Feb 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-78-listener-mailbag-1/Grant and Peter read and respond to listener emails this week! We got some very interesting emails: One from Brady, asking about Habitica, a series on bible stories, and our unfulfilled promises; and one from Gameable Pixar Podcast’s Kris commenting on Manichaeism, alignments and dualism, and housework. Plus, Grant teases some upcoming site changes (forums!) and we remind everyone that Peter writes blog posts for weeks without new STG episodes.

]]>Grant and Peter read and respond to listener emails this week! We got some very interesting emails: One from Brady, asking about Habitica, a series on bible stories, and our unfulfilled promises; and one from Gameable Pixar Podcast's Kris commenting on Manichaeism, alignments and dualism, and housework. Plus, Grant teases some upcoming site changes (forums!) and we remind everyone that Peter writes blog posts for weeks without new STG episodes.

]]>Grant and Peter read and respond to listener emails this week! We got some very interesting emails: One from Brady, asking about Habitica, a series ...
Grant and Peter read and respond to listener emails this week! We got some very interesting emails: One from Brady, asking about Habitica, a series on bible stories, and our unfulfilled promises; and one from Gameable Pixar Podcast's Kris commenting on Manichaeism, alignments and dualism, and housework. Plus, Grant teases some upcoming site changes (forums!) and we remind everyone that Peter writes blog posts for weeks without new STG episodes.

Scripture: Proverbs 11:14, Mark 4:21-24, James 1:22]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:41:31Episode 77 - Surrenderhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-77-surrender/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-77-surrender/#commentsTue, 26 Jan 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-77-surrender/Grant and Peter tackle a pervasive problem afflicting gamers everywhere: A collective inability to handle surrendering PCs and NPCs properly. It’s a topic we’ve had on our to-do list since we started the podcast back in 2012 (Grant credits Fear the Boot #268 for inspiration), and it turns out to have important ramifications for how we play our games. Plus, Grant and Peter briefly discuss the Microscope RPG and issue a call to action: Listeners, fill our mailbag!

]]>Grant and Peter tackle a pervasive problem afflicting gamers everywhere: A collective inability to handle surrendering PCs and NPCs properly. It's a topic we've had on our to-do list since we started the podcast back in 2012 (Grant credits Fear the Boot #268 for inspiration), and it turns out to have important ramifications for how we play our games. Plus, Grant and Peter briefly discuss the Microscope RPG and issue a call to action: Listeners, fill our mailbag!

]]>Grant and Peter tackle a pervasive problem afflicting gamers everywhere: A collective inability to handle surrendering PCs and NPCs properly. It's a topic we've had ...
Grant and Peter tackle a pervasive problem afflicting gamers everywhere: A collective inability to handle surrendering PCs and NPCs properly. It's a topic we've had on our to-do list since we started the podcast back in 2012 (Grant credits Fear the Boot #268 for inspiration), and it turns out to have important ramifications for how we play our games. Plus, Grant and Peter briefly discuss the Microscope RPG and issue a call to action: Listeners, fill our mailbag!

Scripture: Jeremiah 38:17-18, Philippians 2:5-8]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:51:44Bonus Episode 8 - 2016 New Year’s Resolutionshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-8-2016-new-years-resolutions/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-8-2016-new-years-resolutions/#commentsTue, 12 Jan 2016 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-8-2016-new-years-resolutions/Grant and Peter are back with a STG New Year’s tradition: A review of their resolutions for the upcoming year, broken down into “personal”, “gaming”, and “faith”. Plus, Grant drops some information about a Patreon campaign we’re working on, and we discuss the most interesting (and STG-relevant) Christmas gifts we received this year.

]]>Grant and Peter are back with a STG New Year's tradition: A review of their resolutions for the upcoming year, broken down into "personal", "gaming", and "faith". Plus, Grant drops some information about a Patreon campaign we're working on, and we discuss the most interesting (and STG-relevant) Christmas gifts we received this year.

]]>Grant and Peter are back with a STGNew Year's tradition: A review of their resolutions for the upcoming year, broken down into "personal", "gaming", and ...
Grant and Peter are back with a STG New Year's tradition: A review of their resolutions for the upcoming year, broken down into "personal", "gaming", and "faith". Plus, Grant drops some information about a Patreon campaign we're working on, and we discuss the most interesting (and STG-relevant) Christmas gifts we received this year.
Mentioned in this episode: The Blue Devils in Italy: A History of the 88th Infantry Division; A Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels; Habitica; Electric City Comic Con; Clearing the Backlog
Scripture: James 2:14-17, Revelation 3:15-18]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:44:21Episode 76 - Manichaeism (Historical Heresies, Part 3)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-76-manichaeism-historical-heresies-part-3/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-76-manichaeism-historical-heresies-part-3/#commentsTue, 29 Dec 2015 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesHistorical Heresieshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-76-manichaeism-historical-heresies-part-3/Grant and Peter are back at it with part three of our Historical Heresies series. This time, we introduce a major competitor to Christianity in the Western Roman Empire, and a particularly interesting (read: complex and imaginative) Gnostic tradition: Manichaeism! We also provide one last plug for this year’s fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and remind everyone to rate and review us on iTunes, Stitcher, and anywhere else you listen to our podcast on.

]]>Grant and Peter are back at it with part three of our Historical Heresies series. This time, we introduce a major competitor to Christianity in the Western Roman Empire, and a particularly interesting (read: complex and imaginative) Gnostic tradition: Manichaeism! We also provide one last plug for this year's fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and remind everyone to rate and review us on iTunes, Stitcher, and anywhere else you listen to our podcast on.

]]>Grant and Peter are back at it with part three of our Historical Heresies series. This time, we introduce a major competitor to Christianity in ...
Grant and Peter are back at it with part three of our Historical Heresies series. This time, we introduce a major competitor to Christianity in the Western Roman Empire, and a particularly interesting (read: complex and imaginative) Gnostic tradition: Manichaeism! We also provide one last plug for this year's fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and remind everyone to rate and review us on iTunes, Stitcher, and anywhere else you listen to our podcast on.
Scripture: Psalm 119:25-27, Matthew 28:19-20]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:01:05Episode 75 - Group Managementhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-75-group-management/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-75-group-management/#commentsTue, 15 Dec 2015 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-75-group-management/It’s a shorter episode this week, due to recording right after Thanksgiving and Grant (and the rest of his household) being very sick. Still, that doesn’t stop us from plugging our Bodhana Group fundraiser before getting into our main topic: Group management! We talk about the holidays—because it’s that time of year—and what they do to games. Then, we discuss a number of issues which might arise and communication and management tools to alleviate group management problems. Enjoy!

]]>It's a shorter episode this week, due to recording right after Thanksgiving and Grant (and the rest of his household) being very sick. Still, that doesn't stop us from plugging our Bodhana Group fundraiser before getting into our main topic: Group management! We talk about the holidays—because it's that time of year—and what they do to games. Then, we discuss a number of issues which might arise and communication and management tools to alleviate group management problems. Enjoy!

]]>It's a shorter episode this week, due to recording right after Thanksgiving and Grant (and the rest of his household) being very sick. Still, that doesn't ...
It's a shorter episode this week, due to recording right after Thanksgiving and Grant (and the rest of his household) being very sick. Still, that doesn't stop us from plugging our Bodhana Group fundraiser before getting into our main topic: Group management! We talk about the holidays—because it's that time of year—and what they do to games. Then, we discuss a number of issues which might arise and communication and management tools to alleviate group management problems. Enjoy!

Scripture: Proverbs 13:4, Ephesians 5:15-16]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:36:59Episode 74 - The Myth of Redemptive Violence (with Rev. Derek White)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-74-the-myth-of-redemptive-violence-with-rev-derek-white/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-74-the-myth-of-redemptive-violence-with-rev-derek-white/#commentsTue, 01 Dec 2015 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-74-the-myth-of-redemptive-violence-with-rev-derek-white/Rev. Derek White, a.k.a. “The Geekpreacher“, joins Grant and Peter once again! Derek joined us previously on Episode 38, “Christians on the Convention Scene”, and he’s back with us to discuss another weighty topic: Walter Wink’s “myth of redemptive violence” and René Girard’s concept of the “scapegoat” and collective violence. We also take a moment to remind everyone about our ongoing fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and hear about Derek’s growing role as a convention pastor. Lastly, David LaMotte was kind enough to give us permission to use his song “Peter” in this episode; it was particularly appropriat [...]]]>Rev. Derek White, a.k.a. "The Geekpreacher", joins Grant and Peter once again! Derek joined us previously on Episode 38, "Christians on the Convention Scene", and he's back with us to discuss another weighty topic: Walter Wink's "myth of redemptive violence" and René Girard's concept of the "scapegoat" and collective violence. We also take a moment to remind everyone about our ongoing fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and hear about Derek's growing role as a convention pastor. Lastly, David LaMotte was kind enough to give us permission to use his song "Peter" in this episode; it was particularly appropriate, especially since David's a Walter Wink fan too. If you enjoyed it, find more music at his website, and on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.

]]>Rev. Derek White, a.k.a. "The Geekpreacher", joins Grant and Peter once again! Derek joined us previously on Episode 38, "Christians on the Convention Scene", and ...
Rev. Derek White, a.k.a. "The Geekpreacher", joins Grant and Peter once again! Derek joined us previously on Episode 38, "Christians on the Convention Scene", and he's back with us to discuss another weighty topic: Walter Wink's "myth of redemptive violence" and René Girard's concept of the "scapegoat" and collective violence. We also take a moment to remind everyone about our ongoing fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and hear about Derek's growing role as a convention pastor. Lastly, David LaMotte was kind enough to give us permission to use his song "Peter" in this episode; it was particularly appropriate, especially since David's a Walter Wink fan too. If you enjoyed it, find more music at his website, and on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.

Scripture: Hosea 6:6, Jonah 3:10-4:2, Luke 22:47-52]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:14:59Episode 73 - Our Gaming Curriculum (Part 2)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-73-our-gaming-curriculum-part-2/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-73-our-gaming-curriculum-part-2/#commentsTue, 17 Nov 2015 00:01:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-73-our-gaming-curriculum-part-2/Grant and Peter reprise Episode 60’s “Gaming Curriculum” topic, with another set of suggested media! These are things we think you should read, watch, play, or experience away from the gaming table which will make you a better player and gamemaster. Check the full show notes below for links to everything we mentioned during the show!

]]>Grant and Peter reprise Episode 60's "Gaming Curriculum" topic, with another set of suggested media! These are things we think you should read, watch, play, or experience away from the gaming table which will make you a better player and gamemaster. Check the full show notes below for links to everything we mentioned during the show!

]]>Grant and Peter reprise Episode 60's "Gaming Curriculum" topic,with another set of suggested media! These are things we think you should read, watch, play, or ...
Grant and Peter reprise Episode 60's "Gaming Curriculum" topic, with another set of suggested media! These are things we think you should read, watch, play, or experience away from the gaming table which will make you a better player and gamemaster. Check the full show notes below for links to everything we mentioned during the show!

]]>Our holiday fundraiser for The Bodhana Group has officially begun! Grant and a recuperating Peter kick off this episode with a plug for that, before diving into the complex structure and philosophy of Gnosticism in order to lay a foundation for further episodes on specific Gnostic Christian sects. Grant provides an overview of core Gnostic beliefs, and how they connect to Christianity and Judaism (as well as other beliefs from around the Hellenistic world.) We touch on Kabbalah and modern Gnostic influences, and then spend some time discussing a major and newly-discovered Gnostic text: The Gospel of Judas. Grab a notepad, and enjoy!

]]>Our holiday fundraiser for The Bodhana Group has officially begun! Grant and a recuperating Peter kick off this episode with a plug for that, before diving ...Our holiday fundraiser for The Bodhana Group has officially begun! Grant and a recuperating Peter kick off this episode with a plug for that, before diving into the complex structure and philosophy of Gnosticism in order to lay a foundation for further episodes on specific Gnostic Christian sects. Grant provides an overview of core Gnostic beliefs, and how they connect to Christianity and Judaism (as well as other beliefs from around the Hellenistic world.) We touch on Kabbalah and modern Gnostic influences, and then spend some time discussing a major and newly-discovered Gnostic text: The Gospel of Judas. Grab a notepad, and enjoy!

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:39, 1 Timothy 6:20-21, 1 John 4:2-3]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:41:34Episode 71 - Creedshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-71-creeds/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-71-creeds/#commentsTue, 20 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-71-creeds/Grant and Peter take a large tangent in our discussion about heresies in the early Church, and turn it into its own episode on creeds! We discuss the uses of creeds in the early Church (and in other organizations), with plenty of historical examples, and then break down some uses of player-made and GM-made creeds at the gaming table. Don’t forget to check the full show notes for a complete list of all the creeds, confessions, and fictional examples we mentioned in this episode!

]]>Grant and Peter take a large tangent in our discussion about heresies in the early Church, and turn it into its own episode on creeds! We discuss the uses of creeds in the early Church (and in other organizations), with plenty of historical examples, and then break down some uses of player-made and GM-made creeds at the gaming table. Don't forget to check the full show notes for a complete list of all the creeds, confessions, and fictional examples we mentioned in this episode!

]]>Grant and Peter take a large tangent in our discussion about heresies in the early Church, and turn it into its own episode on creeds! ...
Grant and Peter take a large tangent in our discussion about heresies in the early Church, and turn it into its own episode on creeds! We discuss the uses of creeds in the early Church (and in other organizations), with plenty of historical examples, and then break down some uses of player-made and GM-made creeds at the gaming table. Don't forget to check the full show notes for a complete list of all the creeds, confessions, and fictional examples we mentioned in this episode!

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:42:48Episode 70 - Adoptionism and Ebionism (Historical Heresies, Part 1)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-70-adoptionism-and-ebionism-historical-heresies-part-1/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-70-adoptionism-and-ebionism-historical-heresies-part-1/#commentsTue, 06 Oct 2015 00:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesHistorical Heresieshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-70-adoptionism-and-ebionism-historical-heresies-part-1/Grant and Peter kick off a new Historical Heresies series, analyzing heresies from the early Church! Without much additional news, we dive right into our Scripture and topic, starting with Adoptionism and Ebionism. Along the way, we explain what we hope our listeners can learn from this new series and what we hope they can use in their games. As always, feedback is appreciated—especially for a new series—so let us know what you think and what you’d like to hear in future episodes in the comments!

]]>Grant and Peter kick off a new Historical Heresies series, analyzing heresies from the early Church! Without much additional news, we dive right into our Scripture and topic, starting with Adoptionism and Ebionism. Along the way, we explain what we hope our listeners can learn from this new series and what we hope they can use in their games. As always, feedback is appreciated—especially for a new series—so let us know what you think and what you'd like to hear in future episodes in the comments!

]]>Grant and Peter kick off a new Historical Heresies series, analyzing heresies from the early Church! Without much additional news, we dive right into our Scripture and ...
Grant and Peter kick off a new Historical Heresies series, analyzing heresies from the early Church! Without much additional news, we dive right into our Scripture and topic, starting with Adoptionism and Ebionism. Along the way, we explain what we hope our listeners can learn from this new series and what we hope they can use in their games. As always, feedback is appreciated—especially for a new series—so let us know what you think and what you'd like to hear in future episodes in the comments!

Scripture: Isaiah 56:6-8, John 1:1-5, John 10:16]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:42:02Episode 69 - Holy Siteshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-69-holy-sites/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-69-holy-sites/#commentsTue, 22 Sep 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-69-holy-sites/It’s a short episode this week—Grant was fighting a very unpleasant cold—but that didn’t stop Grant and Peter from discussing holy ground! First, reminders about The MacGuffin Factory and our upcoming casual listener Hearthstone tournament (post in the comments if you’re interested, and we’ll send you an invite—it starts September 28th), and some awesome news from Grant. Then we’re on to our Scripture and main topic, about what makes holy sites special and how to use them in your games. Also mentioned: Our third episode ever, on crusaders and Templars; and our show on iTunes, for those of you wanting to write reviews.

Scripture:

]]>It's a short episode this week—Grant was fighting a very unpleasant cold—but that didn't stop Grant and Peter from discussing holy ground! First, reminders about The MacGuffin Factory and our upcoming casual listener Hearthstone tournament (post in the comments if you're interested, and we'll send you an invite—it starts September 28th), and some awesome news from Grant. Then we're on to our Scripture and main topic, about what makes holy sites special and how to use them in your games. Also mentioned: Our third episode ever, on crusaders and Templars; and our show on iTunes, for those of you wanting to write reviews.

]]>It's a short episode this week—Grant was fighting a very unpleasant cold—but that didn't stop Grant and Peter from discussing holy ground! First, reminders about ...
It's a short episode this week—Grant was fighting a very unpleasant cold—but that didn't stop Grant and Peter from discussing holy ground! First, reminders about The MacGuffin Factory and our upcoming casual listener Hearthstone tournament (post in the comments if you're interested, and we'll send you an invite—it starts September 28th), and some awesome news from Grant. Then we're on to our Scripture and main topic, about what makes holy sites special and how to use them in your games. Also mentioned:Our third episode ever, on crusaders and Templars; and our show on iTunes, for those of you wanting to write reviews.

Scripture: Exodus 3:5, Matthew 28:1-6]]>Saving the GameCleanNo37:43Episode 68 - Breaking Down Boundaries (with Kyle Rudge)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-68-breaking-down-boundaries-with-kyle-rudge/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-68-breaking-down-boundaries-with-kyle-rudge/#commentsTue, 08 Sep 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-68-breaking-down-boundaries-with-kyle-rudge/Kyle Rudge of Geekdom House joins Grant and Peter to talk about a host of small, interesting, and interrelated topics! Geekdom House has a Kickstarter wrapping up for their lovely “Area of Effect” print magazine, which we completely neglected to plug until the very end of the show. Kyle’s not just here for that, though—he brought lots of fascinating things to talk about, like: Creating a geeky, mission-forward small group in his church; introducing that group to Dungeons & Dragons; his appearance on the “Faith and Gaming” panel at GenCon 2015 (which Mike Perna recorded [...]]]>Kyle Rudge of Geekdom House joins Grant and Peter to talk about a host of small, interesting, and interrelated topics! Geekdom House has a Kickstarter wrapping up for their lovely "Area of Effect" print magazine, which we completely neglected to plug until the very end of the show. Kyle's not just here for that, though—he brought lots of fascinating things to talk about, like: Creating a geeky, mission-forward small group in his church; introducing that group to Dungeons & Dragons; his appearance on the "Faith and Gaming" panel at GenCon 2015 (which Mike Perna recorded and released over at Game Store Prophets); a Firefly-themed Bible study; taking a men's choir to Winnipeg's Central Canada Comic Con; the tight-knit communities of fandom; Done the Impossible and The Guild; and characters who reflect ourselves. Plus, a quick plug for our Hearthstone listener tournament—let us know if you're interested!

]]>Kyle Rudge of Geekdom House joins Grant and Peter to talk about a host of small, interesting, and interrelated topics! Geekdom House has a Kickstarter ...
Kyle Rudge of Geekdom House joins Grant and Peter to talk about a host of small, interesting, and interrelated topics! Geekdom House has a Kickstarter wrapping up for their lovely "Area of Effect" print magazine, which we completely neglected to plug until the very end of the show. Kyle's not just here for that, though—he brought lots of fascinating things to talk about, like: Creating a geeky, mission-forward small group in his church; introducing that group to Dungeons & Dragons; his appearance on the "Faith and Gaming" panel at GenCon 2015 (which Mike Perna recorded and released over at Game Store Prophets); a Firefly-themed Bible study; taking a men's choir to Winnipeg's Central Canada Comic Con; the tight-knit communities of fandom; Done the Impossible and The Guild; and characters who reflect ourselves. Plus, a quick plug for our Hearthstone listener tournament—let us know if you're interested!

Scripture: Ezekiel 11:19-20, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:02:05Episode 67 - Breaking Canon (with Kris Newton & Katrina Ehrnman-Newton)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-67-breaking-canon-with-kris-newton-katrina-ehrnman-newton/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-67-breaking-canon-with-kris-newton-katrina-ehrnman-newton/#commentsTue, 25 Aug 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-67-breaking-canon-with-kris-newton-katrina-ehrnman-newton/Kris and Katrina, hosts of the Gameable Pixar Podcast (formerly the Gameable Disney Podcast) join Grant and Peter in a special crossover episode on breaking established setting canon! Gameable Pixar just released a pair of episodes discussing The Prince of Egypt, and they invited Peter and Grant to join them in the second episode. They return the favor in this episode, where we discuss how to break canon in settings with high player investment—from Tolkien’s Middle-Earth to Biblical Egypt, Israel and Caanan.

If you want to give the Gameable Podcast a try, we suggest picking your favorite Disney or Pixar film and listeni [...]

]]>Kris and Katrina, hosts of the Gameable Pixar Podcast (formerly the Gameable Disney Podcast) join Grant and Peter in a special crossover episode on breaking established setting canon! Gameable Pixar just released a pair of episodes discussing The Prince of Egypt, and they invited Peter and Grant to join them in the second episode. They return the favor in this episode, where we discuss how to break canon in settings with high player investment—from Tolkien's Middle-Earth to Biblical Egypt, Israel and Caanan.

]]>Kris and Katrina, hosts of the Gameable Pixar Podcast (formerly the Gameable Disney Podcast) join Grant and Peter in a special crossover episode on breaking ...
Kris and Katrina, hosts of the Gameable Pixar Podcast (formerly the Gameable Disney Podcast) join Grant and Peter in a special crossover episode on breaking established setting canon! Gameable Pixar just released a pair of episodes discussing The Prince of Egypt, and they invited Peter and Grant to join them in the second episode. They return the favor in this episode, where we discuss how to break canon in settings with high player investment—from Tolkien's Middle-Earth to Biblical Egypt, Israel and Caanan.

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-11, Jeremiah 23:28-30, Matthew 23:13-15, Romans 15:4]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:11:26Bonus Episode 7 - Collectible Card Gameshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-7-collectible-card-games/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-7-collectible-card-games/#commentsTue, 11 Aug 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-7-collectible-card-games/Grant and Peter take a break to talk about collectible card games! We talk about our experiences with games both paper and pixelated: War of Omens, Hearthstone, Magic: The Gathering, Doomtown, and the Legend of the Five Rings CCG. Plus, work disaster stories!
]]>Grant and Peter take a break to talk about collectible card games! We talk about our experiences with games both paper and pixelated: War of Omens, Hearthstone, Magic: The Gathering, Doomtown, and the Legend of the Five Rings CCG. Plus, work disaster stories!]]>Grant and Peter take a break to talk about collectible card games! We talk about our experiences with games both paper and pixelated: War of ...War of Omens, Hearthstone, Magic: The Gathering, Doomtown, and the Legend of the Five Rings CCG. Plus, work disaster stories!]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:48:37Episode 66 - Gatekeeping (with Mike Perna)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-66-gatekeeping-with-mike-perna/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-66-gatekeeping-with-mike-perna/#commentsWed, 29 Jul 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-66-gatekeeping-with-mike-perna/Mike Perna of Innroads Ministries and Game Store Prophets joins us to talk about a complex problem in both faith communities and geek communities: Gatekeeping. Mike’s joined us before for Episode 33 (”Our Origin Stories”), and he was a perfect fit for this topic in many ways. He previously wrote an excellent article on gatekeeping, and has a lot of wisdom and experience to share with us. We hit on a lot of small details—’controllers’ vs. ‘facilitators’; gatekeeping in church and in geek culture; comments on “pastoral [...]]]>Mike Perna of Innroads Ministries and Game Store Prophets joins us to talk about a complex problem in both faith communities and geek communities: Gatekeeping. Mike's joined us before for Episode 33 ("Our Origin Stories"), and he was a perfect fit for this topic in many ways. He previously wrote an excellent article on gatekeeping, and has a lot of wisdom and experience to share with us. We hit on a lot of small details—'controllers' vs. 'facilitators'; gatekeeping in church and in geek culture; comments on "pastoral customs" by Pope Francis; and others—but our focus is on solving the problem when you encounter it, not just documenting it. It's a rather thoughtful episode, so enjoy, and tell us what you think in the comments!

]]>Mike Perna of Innroads Ministries and Game Store Prophets joins us to talk about a complex problem in both faith communities and geek communities: Gatekeeping. Mike's ...
Mike Perna of Innroads Ministries and Game Store Prophets joins us to talk about a complex problem in both faith communities and geek communities: Gatekeeping. Mike's joined us before for Episode 33 ("Our Origin Stories"), and he was a perfect fit for this topic in many ways. He previously wrote an excellent article on gatekeeping, and has a lot of wisdom and experience to share with us. We hit on a lot of small details—'controllers' vs. 'facilitators'; gatekeeping in church and in geek culture; comments on "pastoral customs" by Pope Francis; and others—but our focus is on solving the problem when you encounter it, not just documenting it. It's a rather thoughtful episode, so enjoy, and tell us what you think in the comments!

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:49-50, 1 Corinthians 12:21-27, 1 Peter 3:8]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:10:08Episode 65 - Non-Human Charactershttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-65-non-human-characters/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-65-non-human-characters/#commentsTue, 14 Jul 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-65-non-human-characters/Grant and Peter are back to talk about non-human player characters—the weirder, the better! After a quick reminder to rate and review us on iTunes or Stitcher, we get on with our main topic. We run through the spectrum of inhumanity: Near-humans, former humans, intelligent animals, and more! Then, we go through questions players (and GMs) need to ask themselves about these sorts of characters to make them effective, believable, and interesting.

]]>Grant and Peter are back to talk about non-human player characters—the weirder, the better! After a quick reminder to rate and review us on iTunes or Stitcher, we get on with our main topic. We run through the spectrum of inhumanity: Near-humans, former humans, intelligent animals, and more! Then, we go through questions players (and GMs) need to ask themselves about these sorts of characters to make them effective, believable, and interesting.

]]>Grant and Peter are back to talk about non-human player characters—the weirder, the better! After a quick reminder to rate and review us on iTunes or ...
Grant and Peter are back to talk about non-human player characters—the weirder, the better! After a quick reminder to rate and review us on iTunes or Stitcher, we get on with our main topic. We run through the spectrum of inhumanity: Near-humans, former humans, intelligent animals, and more! Then, we go through questions players (and GMs) need to ask themselves about these sorts of characters to make them effective, believable, and interesting.

Scripture: Genesis 1:21, Hebrews 13:2]]>Saving the GameCleanNo41:59Episode 64 - Matching System and Storyhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-64-matching-system-and-story/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-64-matching-system-and-story/#commentsTue, 30 Jun 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-64-matching-system-and-story/Grant and Peter are back, with Fear the Con 8 behind us and new gaming horizons ahead! Grant’s had some major changes in his local gaming group, which prompt some discussion, but soon enough it’s on to our main topic: Picking a system that works best for the kinds of stories you want to tell while gaming. From universal to simulationist to light-weight indie games, we weigh all the considerations we can to help you pick the right game. Plus, some (well-deserved) plugs for System Mastery [NSFW], and this clever trick for making your own Fate dice!

]]>Grant and Peter are back, with Fear the Con 8 behind us and new gaming horizons ahead! Grant's had some major changes in his local gaming group, which prompt some discussion, but soon enough it's on to our main topic: Picking a system that works best for the kinds of stories you want to tell while gaming. From universal to simulationist to light-weight indie games, we weigh all the considerations we can to help you pick the right game. Plus, some (well-deserved) plugs for System Mastery [NSFW], and this clever trick for making your own Fate dice!

]]>Grant and Peter are back, with Fear the Con 8 behind us and new gaming horizons ahead! Grant's had some major changes in his local ...
Grant and Peter are back, with Fear the Con 8 behind us and new gaming horizons ahead! Grant's had some major changes in his local gaming group, which prompt some discussion, but soon enough it's on to our main topic: Picking a system that works best for the kinds of stories you want to tell while gaming. From universal to simulationist to light-weight indie games, we weigh all the considerations we can to help you pick the right game. Plus, some (well-deserved) plugs for System Mastery [NSFW], and this clever trick for making your own Fate dice!

Scripture: Proverbs 4:6, James 3:17]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:42:59Bonus Episode 6 - Fear the Con 8http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-6-fear-the-con-8/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-6-fear-the-con-8/#commentsTue, 16 Jun 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-6-fear-the-con-8/Grant and Peter sat down together—in the same room for the first time in the history of Saving the Game—and recorded a short bonus episode together at Fear the Con 8 in St. Louis, MO! We talked about a lot of people, including Mikey Mason and Rev. Derek W. White, but mostly we talked about what we did at the convention and how much fun we had there with the extended Booter family. Enjoy!
]]>Grant and Peter sat down together—in the same room for the first time in the history of Saving the Game—and recorded a short bonus episode together at Fear the Con 8 in St. Louis, MO! We talked about a lot of people, including Mikey Mason and Rev. Derek W. White, but mostly we talked about what we did at the convention and how much fun we had there with the extended Booter family. Enjoy!]]>Grant and Peter sat down together—in the same room for the first time in the history of Saving the Game—and recorded a short bonus episode together ...Fear the Con 8 in St. Louis, MO! We talked about a lot of people, including Mikey Mason and Rev. Derek W. White, but mostly we talked about what we did at the convention and how much fun we had there with the extended Booter family. Enjoy!]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:33:02Episode 63 - An Introduction to Roleplaying Games (with Rev. Jason D. Wood)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-63-an-introduction-to-roleplaying-games-with-rev-jason-d-wood/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-63-an-introduction-to-roleplaying-games-with-rev-jason-d-wood/#commentsTue, 02 Jun 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-63-an-introduction-to-roleplaying-games-with-rev-jason-d-wood/Reverend Jason D. Wood, a full-time pastor and gamer, joins Grant and Peter to help introduce roleplaying games to the curious! Jason writes for The Mad Adventurers Society as The Mad Cleric, giving out gaming advice and life advice for gamers in equal measure, and contributes to the Mad Adventurers’ Potelbat and Potelbat Yalp podcasts. (He’s most accessible on Twitter as @Wood_JasonD.)

Jason joins us for a very special episode: An introduction to roleplaying games for the curious and the uninitiated. As a sort of companion piece to our very first episode (R [...]

]]>Reverend Jason D. Wood, a full-time pastor and gamer, joins Grant and Peter to help introduce roleplaying games to the curious! Jason writes for The Mad Adventurers Society as The Mad Cleric, giving out gaming advice and life advice for gamers in equal measure, and contributes to the Mad Adventurers' Potelbat and Potelbat Yalp podcasts. (He's most accessible on Twitter as @Wood_JasonD.)

Jason joins us for a very special episode: An introduction to roleplaying games for the curious and the uninitiated. As a sort of companion piece to our very first episode ("Are RPGs Evil?"), this episode is designed to be a resource for those who've never played before, and want to (or feel the need to) know more about them. We outline the general conceits of RPGs, explain system and setting, discuss why they're so much fun, and elaborate on some of the positive benefits of roleplaying games. (In particular, we spend some time talking about The Bodhana Group; new listeners should listen to Episode 25, "Therapeutic Roleplaying (with Jack Berkenstock Jr.)" for more on that. They're awesome.) Finally, we wrap up with some advice on getting started in roleplaying games, whether individually, as a family, or as a church activity.

]]>Reverend Jason D. Wood, a full-time pastor and gamer, joins Grant and Peter to help introduce roleplaying games to the curious! Jason writes for The Mad ...
Reverend Jason D. Wood, a full-time pastor and gamer, joins Grant and Peter to help introduce roleplaying games to the curious! Jason writes for The Mad Adventurers Society as The Mad Cleric, giving out gaming advice and life advice for gamers in equal measure, and contributes to the Mad Adventurers' Potelbat and Potelbat Yalp podcasts. (He's most accessible on Twitter as @Wood_JasonD.)

Jason joins us for a very special episode: An introduction to roleplaying games for the curious and the uninitiated. As a sort of companion piece to our very first episode ("Are RPGs Evil?"), this episode is designed to be a resource for those who've never played before, and want to (or feel the need to) know more about them. We outline the general conceits of RPGs, explain system and setting, discuss why they're so much fun, and elaborate on some of the positive benefits of roleplaying games. (In particular, we spend some time talking about The Bodhana Group; new listeners should listen to Episode 25, "Therapeutic Roleplaying (with Jack Berkenstock Jr.)" for more on that. They're awesome.) Finally, we wrap up with some advice on getting started in roleplaying games, whether individually, as a family, or as a church activity.

Scripture: Proverbs 27:17, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 5:27-32, Romans 14:16]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:04:40Episode 62 - Animalshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-62-animals-1432002133/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-62-animals-1432002133/#commentsTue, 19 May 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-62-animals-1432002133/Grant and Peter are back, and talking about creatures great and small! Inspired by M. J. Young’s 2004 Faith and Gaming article “Animals” (written for the Christian Gamers’ Guild), Grant and Peter discuss the wide variety of animals seen in roleplaying games and the real world. Then, we talk about how to use them effectively in your story and setting, and some pitfalls to keep in mind when the focus shifts to pets and other creatures at the table. Plus, we’re going to Fear the Con 8 and you should too!

]]>Grant and Peter are back, and talking about creatures great and small! Inspired by M. J. Young's 2004 Faith and Gaming article "Animals" (written for the Christian Gamers' Guild), Grant and Peter discuss the wide variety of animals seen in roleplaying games and the real world. Then, we talk about how to use them effectively in your story and setting, and some pitfalls to keep in mind when the focus shifts to pets and other creatures at the table. Plus, we're going to Fear the Con 8 and you should too!

]]>Grant and Peter are back, and talking about creatures great and small! Inspired by M. J. Young's 2004 Faith and Gaming article "Animals" (written for ...
Grant and Peter are back, and talking about creatures great and small! Inspired by M. J. Young's 2004 Faith and Gaming article "Animals" (written for the Christian Gamers' Guild), Grant and Peter discuss the wide variety of animals seen in roleplaying games and the real world. Then, we talk about how to use them effectively in your story and setting, and some pitfalls to keep in mind when the focus shifts to pets and other creatures at the table. Plus, we're going to Fear the Con 8 and you should too!

Scripture: Job 12:7-10, Luke 12:6-7, Revelation 5:13]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:55:33Episode 61 - Fear the Charity and Con Games (with Derek Knutsen)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-61-fear-the-charity-and-con-games-with-derek-knutsen/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-61-fear-the-charity-and-con-games-with-derek-knutsen/#commentsThu, 07 May 2015 20:53:28 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-61-fear-the-charity-and-con-games-with-derek-knutsen/Derek Knutsen, co-host of THE ESTABLiSHED FACTS and the mind behind Palegain Press, joins us to talk about charitable activity happening at Fear the Con 8 and some tips on running convention games! Derek has run Fear the Charity events at Fear the Con for several years now, and this year he’s also running Fear the Fruit. He’s also running a canned food drive, an alternate reality game (ARG) for Fear the Charity donations, a charity dungeon crawl at Fear the Con, and more! In short, he’s very busy helping everyone at Fear the Con give back to the broader community, and he’s awesome. While we have him on, we also pick his brain for some advice on running good convention games—basic advice on handling peopl [...]]]>Derek Knutsen, co-host of THE ESTABLiSHED FACTS and the mind behind Palegain Press, joins us to talk about charitable activity happening at Fear the Con 8 and some tips on running convention games! Derek has run Fear the Charity events at Fear the Con for several years now, and this year he's also running Fear the Fruit. He's also running a canned food drive, an alternate reality game (ARG) for Fear the Charity donations, a charity dungeon crawl at Fear the Con, and more! In short, he's very busy helping everyone at Fear the Con give back to the broader community, and he's awesome. While we have him on, we also pick his brain for some advice on running good convention games—basic advice on handling people, play and preparation. Enjoy!

]]>Derek Knutsen, co-host of THE ESTABLiSHED FACTS and the mind behind Palegain Press, joins us to talk about charitable activity happening at Fear the Con ...
Derek Knutsen, co-host of THE ESTABLiSHED FACTS and the mind behind Palegain Press, joins us to talk about charitable activity happening at Fear the Con 8 and some tips on running convention games! Derek has run Fear the Charity events at Fear the Con for several years now, and this year he's also running Fear the Fruit. He's also running a canned food drive, an alternate reality game (ARG) for Fear the Charity donations, a charity dungeon crawl at Fear the Con, and more! In short, he's very busy helping everyone at Fear the Con give back to the broader community, and he's awesome. While we have him on, we also pick his brain for some advice on running good convention games—basic advice on handling people, play and preparation. Enjoy!

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 18:20]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:00:44Episode 60 - Our Gaming Curriculumhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-60-our-gaming-curriculum/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-60-our-gaming-curriculum/#commentsTue, 21 Apr 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-60-our-gaming-curriculum/Well, it’s official: We’re going to Fear the Con 8, and Fear the Con 8 is officially happening, so meet us there! That news aside, though, we’ve got a full episode for you: Grant and Peter reviewing their “gaming curriculum”. These are our suggestions for media of all sorts which you as a gamer should have for reference, read, play, or watch to be a better gamer (and especially a better gamemaster.) The full list of media (with links!) is below the fold for reference, so enjoy!

Scripture: Proverbs 18:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

—-more—-

Settings

]]>Well, it's official: We're going to Fear the Con 8, and Fear the Con 8 is officially happening, so meet us there! That news aside, though, we've got a full episode for you: Grant and Peter reviewing their "gaming curriculum". These are our suggestions for media of all sorts which you as a gamer should have for reference, read, play, or watch to be a better gamer (and especially a better gamemaster.) The full list of media (with links!) is below the fold for reference, so enjoy!

]]>Well, it's official: We're going to Fear the Con 8, and Fear the Con 8 is officially happening, so meet us there! That news aside, ...
Well, it's official: We're going to Fear the Con 8, and Fear the Con 8 is officially happening, so meet us there! That news aside, though, we've got a full episode for you: Grant and Peter reviewing their "gaming curriculum". These are our suggestions for media of all sorts which you as a gamer should have for reference, read, play, or watch to be a better gamer (and especially a better gamemaster.) The full list of media (with links!) is below the fold for reference, so enjoy!

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo53:45Episode 59 - Conspiracieshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-59-conspiracies/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-59-conspiracies/#commentsTue, 07 Apr 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameBloghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-59-conspiracies/Grant and Peter are back to talk about making interesting conspiracies for your players to expose—or participate in! First, we plug the ongoing Fear the Con 8 Kickstarter—if you want to see us there, the con needs to hit its Kickstarter goal, so consider backing it if you haven’t done so yet! Then we get down to business, talking about the elements of a good conspiracy as an entity in your game, and only briefly diverting to talk about conspiracy theories. Like these, which claim the moon isn’t real.

]]>Grant and Peter are back to talk about making interesting conspiracies for your players to expose—or participate in! First, we plug the ongoing Fear the Con 8 Kickstarter—if you want to see us there, the con needs to hit its Kickstarter goal, so consider backing it if you haven't done so yet! Then we get down to business, talking about the elements of a good conspiracy as an entity in your game, and only briefly diverting to talk about conspiracy theories. Like these, which claim the moon isn't real.

]]>Grant and Peter are back to talk about making interesting conspiracies for your players to expose—or participate in! First, we plug the ongoing Fear the ...
Grant and Peter are back to talk about making interesting conspiracies for your players to expose—or participate in! First, we plug the ongoing Fear the Con 8 Kickstarter—if you want to see us there, the con needs to hit its Kickstarter goal, so consider backing it if you haven't done so yet! Then we get down to business, talking about the elements of a good conspiracy as an entity in your game, and only briefly diverting to talk about conspiracy theories. Like these, which claim the moon isn't real.

Scripture: Psalm 41:5-9, Matthew 26:1-5]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:45:18Episode 58 - Prophecy (with Katrina Ehrnman)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-58-prophecy-with-katrina-ehrnman/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-58-prophecy-with-katrina-ehrnman/#commentsTue, 24 Mar 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-58-prophecy-with-katrina-ehrnman/Katrina from The Gameable Disney Podcast joins Grant and Peter for an in-depth discussion of prophecy in our games! You can find Katrina and Kris on Tumblr, Twitter, and iTunes, and can email them too. So, after mentioning the new website and handing out a pair of important congratulations, we get down to business with Scripture and our main [...]]]>Katrina from The Gameable Disney Podcast joins Grant and Peter for an in-depth discussion of prophecy in our games! You can find Katrina and Kris on Tumblr, Twitter, and iTunes, and can email them too. So, after mentioning the new website and handing out a pair of important congratulations, we get down to business with Scripture and our main topic. We define prophecy (and divination, a related topic for another episode); describe its storytelling purposes; posit some examples and sources; and spend a lot of time talking about how to introduce them in your game and use them well. Enjoy!

]]>Katrina from The Gameable Disney Podcast joins Grant and Peter for an in-depth discussion of prophecy in our games! You can find Katrina and Kris ...
Katrina from The Gameable Disney Podcast joins Grant and Peter for an in-depth discussion of prophecy in our games! You can find Katrina and Kris on Tumblr, Twitter, and iTunes, and can email them too. So, after mentioning the new website and handing out a pair of important congratulations, we get down to business with Scripture and our main topic. We define prophecy (and divination, a related topic for another episode); describe its storytelling purposes; posit some examples and sources; and spend a lot of time talking about how to introduce them in your game and use them well. Enjoy!

]]>Game designer, podcaster, and sometime pastor Josh T. Jordan joins Grant and Peter to talk about those less-than-epic games, and why they still matter! Josh is the main host of Tell Me Another and the creative force behind Ginger Goat Games. He brought us this topic, and it turns into a wide-ranging discussion about stories outside the traditional epic heroic journey, where personal concerns trump world-threatening story arcs. (We also mention Amagi Games' "The Soap Opera" one-page game tweak.)

]]>Game designer, podcaster, and sometime pastor Josh T. Jordan joins Grant and Peter to talk about those less-than-epic games, and why they still matter! Josh ...
Game designer, podcaster, and sometime pastor Josh T. Jordan joins Grant and Peter to talk about those less-than-epic games, and why they still matter! Josh is the main host of Tell Me Another and the creative force behind Ginger Goat Games. He brought us this topic, and it turns into a wide-ranging discussion about stories outside the traditional epic heroic journey, where personal concerns trump world-threatening story arcs. (We also mention Amagi Games' "The Soap Opera" one-page game tweak.)
Scripture: Genesis 25:29-34, Matthew 20:29-31, Luke 16:10-12]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:49:14Blog: Working Together While Working Aparthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-working-together-while-working-apart/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-working-together-while-working-apart/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameBloghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-working-together-while-working-apart/One of the pieces of media that’s been consistently pushed on my by friends (mostly my co-host Grant and his wife, but also some other people) is the show White Collar. For those unfamiliar with it, the show is built around the concept of a not-so-bad “bad guy” being teamed up with a good guy to do good things. In some shows this results in tensions and they find drama that way, but in White Collar, it tends to operate more on the friendly banter level. The dynamic is similar to that of a lawful good paladin and a very kind-hearted and decent chaotic good bard working together. The characters (mostly-reformed con man Neal and FBI agent Peter) don’t always agree on how things should be done and operate under different rules, but they genuinely like and trust each other, even if neither one really wants to admit it. The show is delightful you should give it a try if you haven’t.

In any case, while binge-watching the first season on Netflix o [...]

]]>One of the pieces of media that's been consistently pushed on my by friends (mostly my co-host Grant and his wife, but also some other people) is the show White Collar. For those unfamiliar with it, the show is built around the concept of a not-so-bad “bad guy” being teamed up with a good guy to do good things. In some shows this results in tensions and they find drama that way, but in White Collar, it tends to operate more on the friendly banter level. The dynamic is similar to that of a lawful good paladin and a very kind-hearted and decent chaotic good bard working together. The characters (mostly-reformed con man Neal and FBI agent Peter) don't always agree on how things should be done and operate under different rules, but they genuinely like and trust each other, even if neither one really wants to admit it. The show is delightful you should give it a try if you haven't.

In any case, while binge-watching the first season on Netflix over the weekend, I ran across something interesting in Season 1, Episode 9 that I feel is worth putting in the proverbial gamer tool box. [SPOILER WARNING: spoilers for S1E9 of White Collar begin here] In the episode, Peter goes to talk to a corrupt judge, who offers him a bribe. We know from eight prior episodes of character development that he's about as likely to be bribeable as Captain America, so when he plays along, the audience knows that he's doing so with an eye toward catching the corrupt judge in her corruption. The other characters in the show, particularly his boss, are less likely to have quite such absolute confidence in his virtue, so when the judge makes plans to give a tape she made of the interaction to a rival agent, we realize he could be in real trouble. He and Neal both begin to put plans into place to get him out of the jam, but neither consults the other first. Peter gets together a bunch of his subordinates who do trust him and starts building the case against the judge on an accelerated timetable. Neal gets together with another basically-good criminal buddy of his and they erase the tape in transit. The tape being blanked buys Peter more time to turn the tables on the corrupt judge and the dirty FBI agent he's up against by the end of the episode.[END SPOILERS]

The episode illustrates an interesting idea: People who work together don't always need to coordinate to help each other (in fact, a lot of workplaces rely on people not constantly needing to coordinate with the boss or each other to get stuff done). Neal and Peter never communicated what they planned to do to each other, and in fact, Peter was grateful for Neal's help but was as surprised by it as his rival was. They worked together while working apart.

This could be, I think, a really neat thing to do in a game, but in order for it to work properly, the PCs have to really trust each other. If they don't, you're more likely to get intrigue than serendipitous cooperation, which may also make for good play and/or good story depending on your group, but it's beyond the scope of this blog post. However, if you're a GM and your players have that kind of relationship, I think you probably can get away with giving multiple parts of a split party the same news they're going to want to react to without letting them talk to each other before they have to start moving on it, then let their actions help each other at appropriate times once the clock starts moving, and when the party finally reunites, enjoy the “that was you?” moments that will inevitably spring up. I think it's also important for their goals to be complimentary, but don't sweat it if they aren't identical. In the show, Peter wanted to catch a bad guy and Neal just wanted to spare his friend some possible career-imperiling grief.

It's not something you probably want to do all the time, but if your group will go for it, I think it could be a lot of fun to let your PCs work together without working in concert. I certainly intend to give it a try at the earliest opportunity.

—Peter

]]>Episode 56 - Making Locations Gameablehttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-56-making-locations-gameable/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-56-making-locations-gameable/#commentsTue, 24 Feb 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-56-making-locations-gameable/This episode, Grant and Peter talk about making real-world locations you’re not familiar with into interesting, gameable locations! First, though, we have a lot of well-deserved plugs to get through. The Gameable Disney Podcast is absolutely amazing, and both of us recommend listening to its entire backlog of episodes. Christian Geek Central is awesome (and not only because Mikel did a fun interview with us.) And Grant in particular is a big fan of System Mastery, and he just sent them Deliria to review (warning: [...]]]>This episode, Grant and Peter talk about making real-world locations you're not familiar with into interesting, gameable locations! First, though, we have a lot of well-deserved plugs to get through. The Gameable Disney Podcast is absolutely amazing, and both of us recommend listening to its entire backlog of episodes. Christian Geek Central is awesome (and not only because Mikel did a fun interview with us.) And Grant in particular is a big fan of System Mastery, and he just sent them Deliria to review (warning: probably NSFW.) After all that, we get into the meat of the episode, and break down a bunch of useful resources to use when setting a game or scenario in a real-life location you don't know well.

]]>This episode, Grant and Peter talk about making real-world locations you're not familiar with into interesting, gameable locations! First, though, we have a lot of ...
This episode, Grant and Peter talk about making real-world locations you're not familiar with into interesting, gameable locations! First, though, we have a lot of well-deserved plugs to get through. The Gameable Disney Podcast is absolutely amazing, and both of us recommend listening to its entire backlog of episodes. Christian Geek Central is awesome (and not only because Mikel did a fun interview with us.) And Grant in particular is a big fan of System Mastery, and he just sent them Deliria to review (warning: probably NSFW.) After all that, we get into the meat of the episode, and break down a bunch of useful resources to use when setting a game or scenario in a real-life location you don't know well.

Especially dedicated listeners (or those that tuned in for Episode 50’s live recording session) have been exposed to the longest-running inside joke in Saving the Game’s history: Blarey the Podcast Train. I live about a block away from some railroad tracks, and when the freight trains come through, the engineers seem to take a perverse joy in laying on the horn just right, so the sound waves bouncing off the sides of the houses turn the entire street into a giant megaphone. There are certainly more annoying things in the world, but the blaring (blaring horn – Blarey – get it? Yeah, you really didn’t need me to explain that, did you?) of that train horn in the middle of a podcast recording session certainly makes my top ten list of recurring irritations I wish I could be rid of.

But as long as I live on t [...]

]]>

HOOOOOOONNNNK!

Especially dedicated listeners (or those that tuned in for Episode 50's live recording session) have been exposed to the longest-running inside joke in Saving the Game's history: Blarey the Podcast Train. I live about a block away from some railroad tracks, and when the freight trains come through, the engineers seem to take a perverse joy in laying on the horn just right, so the sound waves bouncing off the sides of the houses turn the entire street into a giant megaphone. There are certainly more annoying things in the world, but the blaring (blaring horn – Blarey – get it? Yeah, you really didn't need me to explain that, did you?) of that train horn in the middle of a podcast recording session certainly makes my top ten list of recurring irritations I wish I could be rid of.

But as long as I live on this street, Grant is going to have to edit around breaks in the conversation as we all pause to allow the train sounds on my audio track to fade into the background. The train has derailed conversations and gotten them back on track when we had to pause in the middle of a tangential discussion, it's spawned its own jingle (“Blarey, the podcast train – he's here to ruin your aud-i-O!” [thanks for that, Branden—Grant]) and has, as I mentioned earlier, become an inside joke among the hosts, to the point that, for all of its distracting qualities, it'll feel like the end of an era whenever I move and record an episode from someplace where the familiar rumble and deafening honk aren't going occur.

If you keep an eye open, it's possible to do similar things in-game. In Episode 55, Grant and I spent some time discussing our Shadowrun PCs and in particular, how my PC, Frost, developed an in-game desire to return to the punch clock world of honest (and stable) employment. We discussed how that developed out of a joke, but we barely touched on the fact that the (in-game) joke rose out of another PC's annoyance. The PC in question got into shadowrunning in order to avoid being part of the regular working world, and mine had the gall to drag him into that world, albeit for a short time.

Another PC of mine, a paladin with some psychological baggage, changed away from a hard, grim outlook when some other PCs pointed out to him just how ridiculous he seemed scowling and brooding all the time, and a third one managed to completely isolate himself from the rest of his adventuring party by being impatient and short-tempered with another PC who was obnoxious, but generally good-hearted.

It's not a complete measure of a person by any stretch of the imagination, but how people deal with things that are bothering them, both individually and in groups, says a lot about who they are and what their character is like. Some folks will take an irritation and co-opt it, making something fun (or at least bearable) out of it like the StG hosts have done with the train that comes through my neighborhood, wrapping layers of humor and shared experience around the problem until it's not really a problem any more. In this way, it's almost like the process of an oyster making a pearl. Others will allow the irritant to control their mood, like the last PC I mentioned. Others still will change because of it, and some, realizing that they are the irritant, will try to make themselves less abrasive. None of these approaches to irritating circumstances is the “right” one when you're creating characters, but it's worth keeping them (and any other responses you can think of; my list certainly isn't exhaustive) in the back of your mind for character development.

Who knows? Maybe that thing that's just a pain today will eventually turn into something with its own theme song tomorrow.

]]>Episode 55 - Groundwork for Character Developmenthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-55-groundwork-for-character-development/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-55-groundwork-for-character-development/#commentsTue, 10 Feb 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-55-groundwork-for-character-development/Grant and Peter return to talk about laying the groundwork for character development before the game starts! We lead off with a reminder about Sojourn 2 (and the forthcoming Sojourn 3), and a request for listener input on topics and for reviews on iTunes. Then we get into the topic at hand: Setting yourself up for successful character growth ahead of time. We go over some methods, benefits and ideas; and we wrap up with a STG first—Peter and Grant attempting to put their own advice to good use on-air. Enjoy!

]]>Grant and Peter return to talk about laying the groundwork for character development before the game starts! We lead off with a reminder about Sojourn 2 (and the forthcoming Sojourn 3), and a request for listener input on topics and for reviews on iTunes. Then we get into the topic at hand: Setting yourself up for successful character growth ahead of time. We go over some methods, benefits and ideas; and we wrap up with a STG first—Peter and Grant attempting to put their own advice to good use on-air. Enjoy!

]]>Grant and Peter return to talk about laying the groundwork for character development before the game starts! We lead off with a reminder aboutSojourn 2 ...
Grant and Peter return to talk about laying the groundwork for character development before the game starts! We lead off with a reminder about Sojourn 2 (and the forthcoming Sojourn 3), and a request for listener input on topics and for reviews on iTunes. Then we get into the topic at hand: Setting yourself up for successful character growth ahead of time. We go over some methods, benefits and ideas; and we wrap up with a STG first—Peter and Grant attempting to put their own advice to good use on-air. Enjoy!

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

I have an odd relationship with difficulty. Sometimes it just frustrates me. I play most shooters and other action games as well as most story-based RPGs on “normal” or “easy.” I tend to get annoyed when I’m playing a digital card game and the random number generator seems to favor the computer’s draws more often than not. But there are times when that falls away. I tend to thrive on a certain amount of pressure at work (even if most of it is internal), I love the feeling I get when I figure out a solution to a real-world problem, and I definitely like some more difficult gaming experiences.

I think the difference is that there is more than one kind of difficulty. One type represents being inadequate in some way I’m unable to overcome. This type of difficulty manifests in being shafted by a r [...]

]]>Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26

I have an odd relationship with difficulty. Sometimes it just frustrates me. I play most shooters and other action games as well as most story-based RPGs on “normal” or “easy.” I tend to get annoyed when I'm playing a digital card game and the random number generator seems to favor the computer's draws more often than not. But there are times when that falls away. I tend to thrive on a certain amount of pressure at work (even if most of it is internal), I love the feeling I get when I figure out a solution to a real-world problem, and I definitely like some more difficult gaming experiences.

I think the difference is that there is more than one kind of difficulty. One type represents being inadequate in some way I'm unable to overcome. This type of difficulty manifests in being shafted by a random number generator, being unable to twitch fast enough in a FPS or RTS to do anything but die, or even encountering an unexpected and unavoidable traffic jam on the way to work. I can't control the random number generator, as I age, my reflexes aren't going to get any faster, and there is no amount of good planning that will save me from the consequences of someone else, 20 minutes ahead of me, getting into an accident that snarls traffic in all directions.

The other type, however, comes from inexperience and invites growth. Some of my favorite gaming experiences have come from this type of difficulty. Way back in the late 1990s, Jagged Alliance 2 kept me on my toes and I moved a rag-tag squad of mercenaries around a map trying to liberate the oppressed country of Arulco. That game is really tough, but the toughness feels fair; enemies are subject to the same rules as you, and while they often have better numbers and equipment, they are seldom any match on a personal prowess level for your team. In addition, staying calm and using solid tactics will usually be enough to get you out of all but the thorniest jams. XCOM: Enemy Within plays out in a very similar manner, as do a number of other great turn-based strategy games I've played over the years.

Two more good examples are the entire roguelike and rogue-lite genre cluster and Lords of the Fallen, which I'm playing in preparation for taking a crack at a Dark Souls game. Like the aforementioned turn-based strategy games, they give you a consistent set of rules that everything in the world plays by, then puts you in a set of circumstances designed to test how well you can work within those rules. As you play, you can feel yourself getting better. When I first started playing Lords of the Fallen, a single rhogar marauder was more than a match for me. Now I can take on two at a time and usually come out victorious (if not unscathed).

Finally, there are deck-building card games, which I have very hit-or-miss luck with. I'm good enough at Magic: The Gathering for it to be fun in a casual context (and I love Commander/EDH) but I'll never darken the door of a tournament. I tend to get my clock cleaned in Race for the Galaxy and Dominion, but I love those games anyway, I can feel myself getting slowly better, and the success I experience in all three is more satisfying not only for the failure I've experienced, but for the knowing why.

There is a parallel, I think, between the struggle to get better at some game and getting better at being a person and a Christian. The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of athletic competition often when he's talking about the Christian life, and I think he's onto something. Resisting my habitual sins and being more loving, more forgiving, and more learned in my faith isn't effortless. It's sometimes really hard, in fact. But I don't think we're supposed to look at the struggle as a futile one we can't make any progress in. Much like a more experienced player or a strategy guide, we have Jesus, and Paul, and countless other scriptural figures to show us at least some of what we need to do if we're going to overcome the obstacles in our path. And even with that help, we're never going to succeed 100% of the time. But much like with those pesky rhogar marauders, if we keep at it, we'll eventually find that things that used to seem insurmountable to us are now challenges we have a solid chance of overcoming.

—Peter

]]>Bonus Episode 5 - 2015 New Year’s Resolutionshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-5-2015-new-years-resolutions/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-5-2015-new-years-resolutions/#commentsTue, 27 Jan 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-5-2015-new-years-resolutions/It’s our annual New Year’s Resolutions bonus episode! Our fundraiser has wrapped up (at $360 raised for The Bodhana Group, well beyond our $150 goal), and Sojourn Volume 2 is still out, with Volume 3 in the works! Also, Branden’s no longer with the podcast; we wish him the best of luck going forward. After that news wrap-up, Peter and Grant break down our resolutions for the coming year, and what we’ll do to keep them.

]]>It's our annual New Year's Resolutions bonus episode! Our fundraiser has wrapped up (at $360 raised for The Bodhana Group, well beyond our $150 goal), and Sojourn Volume 2 is still out, with Volume 3 in the works! Also, Branden's no longer with the podcast; we wish him the best of luck going forward. After that news wrap-up, Peter and Grant break down our resolutions for the coming year, and what we'll do to keep them.

]]>It's our annual New Year's Resolutions bonus episode! Our fundraiser has wrapped up (at $360 raised for The Bodhana Group, well beyond our $150 goal), ...
It's our annual New Year's Resolutions bonus episode! Our fundraiser has wrapped up (at $360 raised for The Bodhana Group, well beyond our $150 goal), and Sojourn Volume 2 is still out, with Volume 3 in the works! Also, Branden's no longer with the podcast; we wish him the best of luck going forward. After that news wrap-up, Peter and Grant break down our resolutions for the coming year, and what we'll do to keep them.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6, 2 Corinthians 6:2]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:37:29Blog: Digging Shallow Holeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-digging-shallow-holes/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-digging-shallow-holes/#commentsTue, 20 Jan 2015 06:00:00 -0400savingthegameBlogPeterhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-digging-shallow-holes/

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”—Ecclesiastes 1:9

There’s something appropriate to the fact that Solomon’s words are about 3000 years old, and while he may not have given humanity enough credit in terms of technology, he certainly was right about our behavior. There are two places I think this is relevant, with radically-different levels of importance.

The first and more important is that, as I’ve heard a number of pastors say, there is nothing we can do that God hasn’t seen before. Our shortcomings and sins are neither novel nor noteworthy, and neither is our cycle of struggle, failure, trying again, backsliding, progress, temporary success, and genuine forward progress. The story of the Bible is the story of humanity failing, screwing things up, pleading for forgiveness, getting it, doing better, and then sliding back into old [...]

]]>

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."—Ecclesiastes 1:9

There's something appropriate to the fact that Solomon's words are about 3000 years old, and while he may not have given humanity enough credit in terms of technology, he certainly was right about our behavior. There are two places I think this is relevant, with radically-different levels of importance.

The first and more important is that, as I've heard a number of pastors say, there is nothing we can do that God hasn't seen before. Our shortcomings and sins are neither novel nor noteworthy, and neither is our cycle of struggle, failure, trying again, backsliding, progress, temporary success, and genuine forward progress. The story of the Bible is the story of humanity failing, screwing things up, pleading for forgiveness, getting it, doing better, and then sliding back into old habits and the cycle beginning anew. There is nothing we can do to shock God. There is no wrongdoing we can commit that will set us apart as one of the “special bad ones.” His forgiveness extends to all equally.

The second is that because of this pattern, human nature has been more-or-less constant for all of our history. We do good, we do evil. Cycles of freedom and oppression wax and wane, and one can find parallels with present events in history, sometimes very recent history. I'm sure everyone with an internet connection has seen some quote that, on the face of it, appears to be about current events that was actually from the 1960s. Or 1860s. Or 1360s. Humanity is nothing if not consistent, which is why, in my opinion, the stories we tell each other are so important.

It's also why they tend to be so similar.

There are archetypal stories out there (how many is the subject of much discussion and debate) but the names are familiar: the Hero's Journey, Boy Meets Girl, Monster in the House, and so forth. Each one comes with its own set of tropes and conventions. So many of us strive to come up with something original, when the truth is: we can't. There is at least one website devoted to cataloging tropes, and it is massive. In a way, that knowledge is freeing, if you let it be. Because there is still room to combine the elements in a new way, even if the elements themselves are familiar. And in so doing, we can create something more useful than something new: we can create something meaningful, and meaningful in such a way that it can be understood.

Meaningful doesn't always have to mean “deep” by the way; not every story we tell is going to contain some timeless, profound truth. However, if we let them, almost every story we tell, or that we let others tell us, will reveal some small tings about us. Telling stories together builds friendships, but it does so by showing others parts of us that we can't or won't show in other ways. Tabletop RPGs can do this better than most other means, if we let them. The collaborative nature of the experience means that the participants should be constantly playing off of each other – you can tell a lot about someone by the types of characters they create, and how those characters behave in-game. The experience teaches both us and our friends our own specific rhythms and patterns of thought while teaching us theirs in return. Oftentimes, all that's useful for is making the session more enjoyable, but in today's world of stress and disconnection, that's still a worthy goal. Every now and then, though, sometimes unintentionally, the experience will teach us something profound about ourselves, deeper than we expected, but you have to keep scratching the surface to get down there.

We often get into the good stuff, the deep stuff, the really useful and meaningful revelations not by digging a mine shaft straight down, but by digging a continuous series of shallow holes, one inside the other.

]]>Episode 54 - Holiday Gaminghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-54-holiday-gaming/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-54-holiday-gaming/#commentsTue, 13 Jan 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-54-holiday-gaming/It’s a short episode this week—Grant, Peter, and Branden recorded it just before Christmas—but we make the most of our time! First up, we plug Sojourn Volume 2 (remember, Peter’s published in here again, along with many of our Booter friends), and we have officially finished up our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group. Then we get down to it with Scripture and a back-and-forth about making holiday-themed games successful. Referenced works: A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny.

]]>It's a short episode this week—Grant, Peter, and Branden recorded it just before Christmas—but we make the most of our time! First up, we plug Sojourn Volume 2 (remember, Peter's published in here again, along with many of our Booter friends), and we have officially finished up our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group. Then we get down to it with Scripture and a back-and-forth about making holiday-themed games successful. Referenced works: A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny.

]]>It's a short episode this week—Grant, Peter, and Branden recorded it just before Christmas—but we make the most of our time! First up, we plug ...
It's a short episode this week—Grant, Peter, and Branden recorded it just before Christmas—but we make the most of our time! First up, we plug Sojourn Volume 2 (remember, Peter's published in here again, along with many of our Booter friends), and we have officially finished up our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group. Then we get down to it with Scripture and a back-and-forth about making holiday-themed games successful. Referenced works: A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny.

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6, 2 Corinthians 6:2]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:31:13Blog: Resolutionshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-resolutions/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-resolutions/#commentsTue, 06 Jan 2015 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameBlogPeterhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-resolutions/Every year, I and countless other people make New Year’s Resolutions. And every year, most of us break most of them. The reasons vary, but most resolutions do not survive the year. That leads a lot of folks of a sensible but perhaps a little cynical bent to deride the practice as worthless or just a source of disappointment.

I disagree; I think the practice, even, perhaps especially, given the ephemeral nature of the resolutions is valuable.

For one thing, failed resolutions can be a convenient reminder that even the most sensible of us can’t always predict how things will turn out. It can be a good hedge against Pride to realize that we didn’t accomplish something we wanted to as long as we don’t fall into the trap of self-loathing about it. That same reminder of our own finite and fallible nature, especially so closely placed to Christmas, can help drive home just what a wonderful thing it is that God loves us and chose to walk among us in hu [...]

]]>Every year, I and countless other people make New Year's Resolutions. And every year, most of us break most of them. The reasons vary, but most resolutions do not survive the year. That leads a lot of folks of a sensible but perhaps a little cynical bent to deride the practice as worthless or just a source of disappointment.

I disagree; I think the practice, even, perhaps especially, given the ephemeral nature of the resolutions is valuable.

For one thing, failed resolutions can be a convenient reminder that even the most sensible of us can't always predict how things will turn out. It can be a good hedge against Pride to realize that we didn't accomplish something we wanted to as long as we don't fall into the trap of self-loathing about it. That same reminder of our own finite and fallible nature, especially so closely placed to Christmas, can help drive home just what a wonderful thing it is that God loves us and chose to walk among us in human flesh, experiencing what we experience as we experience it.

I also think also there's tremendous value in sitting down once a year and really thinking about what you'd like to do with your life. Modern life is, almost by definition, busy and distracting. Even as an introvert, married to another introvert, with no children and a job that allows me excellent work-life balance, I find my attention constantly in demand for a thousand things, both petty and important, and even when I'm not busy, there's always Netflix and Steam. It's nice to have an annual ritual where we stop for a bit and contemplate what, exactly, we actually want to do with ourselves. (This same phenomenon, by the way, is why I also enjoy long car rides with my wife; driving removes a lot of the technological distractions and gives us time to talk.) There are some nice parallels between annual lists of things I'd like to make better about myself and the doctrine of Progressive Sanctification I believe in as a Methodist.

And finally, making some resolutions acknowledges the clean slate that a new year brings, but it also puts a few brushstrokes on the canvass so you're not staring into a void of endless, yet empty, possibilities. Or maybe that's just me.

So I'm doing what I always do at this time of year: I'm assembling a list of things that I'd like to do with my life and I'm going to try to accomplish some of them in the coming year.

With that in mind, I offer the following resolution-related suggestions:

- Pick stuff you WANT to do, not just stuff you HAVE to do or feel you SHOULD do. If you're anything like me (and face it, if you're reading a post about resolutions on the website of a Christian RPG podcast, you're probably more like me than either of us is comfortable with) you'll have more success and less guilt that way.

- Pick out a few things that you'd like to try, but never have. In my personal lists, this often takes the form of game systems, and I have a few in mind for this year.

- Pick stuff you'll want to “renew” if you don't get it done this year.

- Divide your list into categories. Here on Saving the Game, we've used the categories of Faith, Personal, and Gaming, but obviously those are driven more by the format of the podcast than anything else.

- Don't be afraid to let resolutions go if you realize you don't want them any more.

- Pick at least a few things that won't benefit just you if you pull them off.

- Have fun with it! Silly resolutions are fine, as are difficult ones.

- Share them! (Perhaps not all of them, but the ones you're comfortable sharing.)

- Check in on them periodically throughout the year. (Doing this is one of mine for this year.)

]]>Episode 53 - Humility (Virtues & Vices, Part 14)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-53-humility-virtues-vices-part-14-1419998344/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-53-humility-virtues-vices-part-14-1419998344/#commentsTue, 30 Dec 2014 23:59:03 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-53-humility-virtues-vices-part-14-1419998344/Our Virtues & Vices series concludes with a look at humility! Peter’s published again in Sojourn Volume 2 and our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group is nearly wrapped up, and well past its goal! There’s also an ongoing discussion we’d like you participate in—essentially, we’re looking for suggestions and improvements for the coming year. After all that, we talk over humility in characters and at the gaming table, and conclude with a special thank-you to our listeners and wishes for a merry Christmas and an awesome New Year.

]]>Our Virtues & Vices series concludes with a look at humility! Peter's published again in Sojourn Volume 2 and our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group ...
Our Virtues & Vices series concludes with a look at humility! Peter's published again in Sojourn Volume 2 and our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group is nearly wrapped up, and well past its goal! There's also an ongoing discussion we'd like you participate in—essentially, we're looking for suggestions and improvements for the coming year. After all that, we talk over humility in characters and at the gaming table, and conclude with a special thank-you to our listeners and wishes for a merry Christmas and an awesome New Year.

Scripture: Psalm 131, Matthew 11:29-30, Philippians 2:3-11]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:42:03Blog: Merry Christmas!http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-merry-christmas/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-merry-christmas/#commentsTue, 23 Dec 2014 10:45:35 -0400savingthegameBloghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-merry-christmas/Normally at this point, you’d get 700-1000 words of my musing about gaming, Christianity, introvertedness, or something else that touches on the podcast’s topic stable here. But it’s the holidays, and I work in retail, and therefore I’ve been reduced to a shambling Christmas zombie. So instead of a blog post, I offer the following holiday wishes.

To our Christian listeners: Merry Christmas! I hope the joy of the season and the love of both Christ and your loved ones are with you.

To our non-Christian listeners who celebrate another seasonal holiday: Happy Holidays! As you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, or whatever other winter holiday you choose, I hope the time is enjoyable and meaningful.

]]>Normally at this point, you'd get 700-1000 words of my musing about gaming, Christianity, introvertedness, or something else that touches on the podcast's topic stable here. But it's the holidays, and I work in retail, and therefore I've been reduced to a shambling Christmas zombie. So instead of a blog post, I offer the following holiday wishes.

To our Christian listeners: Merry Christmas! I hope the joy of the season and the love of both Christ and your loved ones are with you.

To our non-Christian listeners who celebrate another seasonal holiday: Happy Holidays! As you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, or whatever other winter holiday you choose, I hope the time is enjoyable and meaningful.

To everyone who uses the Gregorian calendar: Happy New Year! We're planning another live episode for the 8th of January—our annual resolutions episode. The last live episode was an absolute blast. You should come join us for this one.

And that's all I've got. I hope your holidays, and any holiday gaming you manage to do are awesome. And I'll be back with more blog entries in the new year.

—Peter

]]>Episode 52 - Pride (Virtues & Vices, Part 13)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-52-pride-virtues-vices-part-13/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-52-pride-virtues-vices-part-13/#commentsTue, 16 Dec 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-52-pride-virtues-vices-part-13/It’s only Grant and Peter this episode, as we head into the final pair in our Virtues & Vices series! First, we talk about our ongoing (and quickly wrapping up) fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and give Innroads Ministries some much-deserved plugs as well. Then we explore what C.S. Lewis called “the complete anti-God state of mind”—Pride. Some theological and practical definitions of pride get discussed before we explore pride as a character trait, and its manifestation at the gaming table.

]]>It's only Grant and Peter this episode, as we head into the final pair in our Virtues & Vices series! First, we talk about our ongoing (and quickly wrapping up) fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and give Innroads Ministries some much-deserved plugs as well. Then we explore what C.S. Lewis called "the complete anti-God state of mind"—Pride. Some theological and practical definitions of pride get discussed before we explore pride as a character trait, and its manifestation at the gaming table.

]]>It's only Grant and Peter this episode, as we head into the final pair in our Virtues Vices series! First, we talk about our ...
It's only Grant and Peter this episode, as we head into the final pair in our Virtues & Vices series! First, we talk about our ongoing (and quickly wrapping up) fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and give Innroads Ministries some much-deserved plugs as well. Then we explore what C.S. Lewis called "the complete anti-God state of mind"—Pride. Some theological and practical definitions of pride get discussed before we explore pride as a character trait, and its manifestation at the gaming table.
Also mentioned in this episode: Episode 33 of Saving the Game, "Our Origin Stories (with Mike Perna)"; Peter's Evil Overlord Guide.
Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24, Matthew 23:8-12, ,1 Corinthians 3:5-9]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:54:16Blog: Putting Down The Swordhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-putting-down-the-sword/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-putting-down-the-sword/#commentsTue, 09 Dec 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameBloghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-putting-down-the-sword/The meme of “murder hobos” has been a prevalent one in gaming discussion lately. If you’re not familiar with the concept, it’s exactly what it sounds like: PCs that wander around killing stuff, often seemingly for its own sake. Violence has been part of RPGs from the beginning; after all, Gygax and Arneson came out of the tabletop wargaming scene when they created D&D back in the 1970s.

Furthermore, even if Gygax and Arneson had come from more of a dramatic tradition rather than a tactical one, violence would be in there. Shakespeare and the Greek plays are full of bloodshed and mayhem. People have been fighting and killing each other, and for that matter, everything that moves, for ages.

I still can’t help but wonder if we’ve put just a little too much emphasis on participating in it in the RPG world. Our recent discussion about nonviolent conflict has been sharing an orbit in my mind with This War of Mine, a game about surviv [...]

]]>The meme of "murder hobos" has been a prevalent one in gaming discussion lately. If you're not familiar with the concept, it's exactly what it sounds like: PCs that wander around killing stuff, often seemingly for its own sake. Violence has been part of RPGs from the beginning; after all, Gygax and Arneson came out of the tabletop wargaming scene when they created D&D back in the 1970s.

Furthermore, even if Gygax and Arneson had come from more of a dramatic tradition rather than a tactical one, violence would be in there. Shakespeare and the Greek plays are full of bloodshed and mayhem. People have been fighting and killing each other, and for that matter, everything that moves, for ages.

I still can't help but wonder if we've put just a little too much emphasis on participating in it in the RPG world. Our recent discussion about nonviolent conflict has been sharing an orbit in my mind with This War of Mine, a game about surviving in a war zone as civilians. In our last episode, Devon mentioned that nonviolent conflict resolution tends to keep stories moving faster, and that's very true.

However, if you're anything like me, suggestions and ideas are always welcome in these situations, so here's a list of scenario ideas and media that might help you along if you want to put more non-violent action in your game.

• Rescue operations where PCs have to sneak someone or a group of someones out of a hostile area under the noses of superior forces can be incredibly intense and cool. The real-life example that comes to mind most quickly is the Underground Railroad where abolitionists snuck slaves out of the South in pre-Civil War America.

• As we mentioned in the episode, heists that have to go off stealthily are wonderfully entertaining experiences, both from the planning and execution sides of things. Some of the most memorable gaming stories I have to this day come from Grant's Savage Shadowrun game in a scenario that centered around sabotaging a soft drink release.

• I feel like I mention this all the time, but large-scale events like natural disasters or even extreme weather are a great bit of seasoning for these types of events. If you're trying to be stealthy, a violent rainstorm is potentially a huge boon as the wall of rain obscures vision and the sound of it obscures other noises and washes away muddy footprints on hard ground. Natural disasters, especially ones you can see coming, provide a great opportunity for players to exercise their ingenuity. Remember how everyone was screaming at their televisions over the lots full of school buses after Hurricane Katrina? This lets your player characters avert situations like that in a safe, fictional setting.

• Races can be interesting too, in either the traditional competitive sense, or in a higher-stakes one where the PCs are trying to outrun a hostile force of some kind to some key point. Trying to get through to an important leader with diplomatic documents before a foreign envoy that wants to start a war does would make for a very tense scenario.

• If there's anything This War Of Mine has impressed on me, it's that just trying to survive and find resources is a very compelling struggle on its own. Playing a few games of This War of Mine or Neo Scavenger will probably do the same for you. The games do feature some violence, but it's not something you enter into lightly or usually even willingly. This could be a whole campaign (the base idea works especially well for post-apocalyptic scenarios) or something to add spice to an existing game.

• Exploration and treasure hunting can make for an exciting time, and the themes fit any number of games from historical-style New World exploration to hunting through the Dream Realms in a fantasy game to colonizing a new planet in science fiction. GMs wanting to provide this experience for their players would be well-served by looking up some of the more interesting things here on Earth. Keep in mind also that you don't have to be the first people or sapient beings to ever reach a particular place for it to be interesting. Finding new human civilizations in a low-fantasy world is exciting and mysterious.

• Escape scenarios, particularly prison breaks make for some great adventures. Watch The Great Escape and The Shawshank Redemption (no hardship) for ideas. The book The Great Escape was based on is even better and more replete with ideas.

• Grand-scale projects always have problems. The PCs can be the people who make sure an ambitious venture is able to keep going. Some ideas for the project itself include transportation networks (roads, railroads, portal networks, seaports, a space elevator), fortifications (the Great Wall, a castle, a defensive space station), or science and industry (a skyscraper, a specialized manufacturing facility, the Large Hadron Collider). Snags include shortages (of manpower, materials, or money), bureaucracy, shifting circumstances or terrain, difficult deadlines, and poor planning on the part of the organizers that has to be worked around.

• Politics, diplomacy, and intrigue. And not even just Westeros-style conniving. Putting the PCs in charge of getting a good-hearted (but maybe somewhat uncontrollable) NPC politician elected in a democratic society could make for a whole campaign.

• Investigations, mysteries, and puzzles are an old-standby, but for good reason. If you particularly enjoy this type of game, looking at the GUMSHOE line of games from Pelgrane Press is highly recommended.

Hopefully that list will be enough to get you started – I know that I'm excited to put more of this in my games when I start GMing again. If you have any further ideas or comments, we'd love to hear them. Comment on the article or get in touch with us via social media.

]]>Episode 51 - Non-Violent Conflict Resolution (with Devon Kelley)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-51-non-violent-conflict-resolution-with-devon-kelley/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-51-non-violent-conflict-resolution-with-devon-kelley/#commentsTue, 02 Dec 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-51-non-violent-conflict-resolution-with-devon-kelley/Devon Kelley from the Shark Bone Podcast joins Grant, Peter and Branden in a discussion of one of Devon’s favorite RPG topics: Non-violent conflict resolution! Devon plugs a game of his own—Threshold: Tragic Superheroes, available through DriveThruRPG—and we plug our ongoing holiday fundraiser for The Bodhana Group. Then we dive (har har—you’re welcome, Devon) into our scripture and our topic. We discuss why non-combat conflict resolution is often overlooked in RPGs; why it’s important; how to encourage it, as a player and as a GM; and plenty of real-world examples of this sort of play.

Scripture:[...]

]]>Devon Kelley from the Shark Bone Podcast joins Grant, Peter and Branden in a discussion of one of Devon's favorite RPG topics: Non-violent conflict resolution! Devon plugs a game of his own—Threshold: Tragic Superheroes, available through DriveThruRPG—and we plug our ongoing holiday fundraiser for The Bodhana Group. Then we dive (har har—you're welcome, Devon) into our scripture and our topic. We discuss why non-combat conflict resolution is often overlooked in RPGs; why it's important; how to encourage it, as a player and as a GM; and plenty of real-world examples of this sort of play.

]]>Devon Kelley from the Shark Bone Podcast joins Grant, Peter and Branden in a discussion of one of Devon's favorite RPG topics: Non-violent conflict resolution! ...
Devon Kelley from the Shark Bone Podcast joins Grant, Peter and Branden in a discussion of one of Devon's favorite RPG topics: Non-violent conflict resolution! Devon plugs a game of his own—Threshold: Tragic Superheroes, available through DriveThruRPG—and we plug our ongoing holiday fundraiser for The Bodhana Group. Then we dive (har har—you're welcome, Devon) into our scripture and our topic. We discuss why non-combat conflict resolution is often overlooked in RPGs; why it's important; how to encourage it, as a player and as a GM; and plenty of real-world examples of this sort of play.
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:7, Matthew 26:47-54, John 13:34-35, and 1 Peter 3:9-11]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:51:40Blog: Community at a Distancehttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-community-at-a-distance/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-community-at-a-distance/#commentsWed, 26 Nov 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameBlogPeterhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-community-at-a-distance/

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I’ve made no secret to anyone who knows me (or anyone who listens to the podcast) that I sit on the “introvert” side of the introvert-extrovert spectrum. It may come off as odd or even inaccurate to some, because my job is fairly asocial. I work in shipping and receiving, and for most of the year, I am a one-man department. Because of this, unlike a lot of introverts, I still have some social energy left in the evenings because my work doesn’t drain it away, so friends often see a fairly [...]

]]>

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I've made no secret to anyone who knows me (or anyone who listens to the podcast) that I sit on the "introvert" side of the introvert-extrovert spectrum. It may come off as odd or even inaccurate to some, because my job is fairly asocial. I work in shipping and receiving, and for most of the year, I am a one-man department. Because of this, unlike a lot of introverts, I still have some social energy left in the evenings because my work doesn't drain it away, so friends often see a fairly lively, energetic side of me.

Or at least, they hear it. The blessing and the curse of the internet is that many of the people I consider my closest friends live in other states. I've never met some of them in person, though I've talked with them via VOIP services and game with some of them almost every week. I hope to meet them face-to-face at a convention one of these days.

And yet, that geographic separation doesn't make them any less my actual friends - in fact, I'd argue the opposite is true. Much like the more somber, slower pace of traditional services help put me in a better frame of mind for worship on Sunday morning, I often make friends better via the internet. I even met my wife that way. The slower pace of communications provided by forums and social media allows me to connect better with people, at least on a first-impression sort of basis. And it's typically less jarring and therefore easier to back out of a social media or forum conversation (or even end a VOIP call) than it is to leave a social gathering.

Some of the extroverts reading this are probably bristling now, ready with all kinds of admonitions that "internet socializing doesn't count." To which I can only say: which is more important to you - physical proximity, or mental and emotional engagement?

To shift gears slightly, this is one of the things that is also nice about gaming. It gives you another context so socialize in, with reasonably clear rules of engagement and something that all the participants are already invested in to talk about. Planning a job in Shadowrun or meticulously working your way through a dungeon crawl provides a greater level of conversational depth than simply talking about the weather, or at least it can. I'd argue it should.

By contrast, church can be an intimidating place, especially to the uninitiated. There are tons of rules, almost all of them unspoken, and the penalties for breaking them can be severe. I think that sometimes we as Christians can get a little arbitrary of what we expect of people. Talking with other folks in the "geeky faith" community like my cohosts, Derek White, and Mike Perna DOES count as fellowship with other believers. If a new Christian is more comfortable fellowshipping with other believers at a slower pace online - that counts. If a long-time Christian is having problems with social anxiety or social fatigue and does the same thing - it still counts. To come back around to my earlier point, meeting together is being mentally present with each other, giving of your time and attention instead of merely displacing the air an arbitrary number of feet away from them.

Now, I'm not about to suggest that introverts and/or gamers of faith should never darken a church's door. There are a lot of things churches offer, particularly if you get involved. Opportunities to start "checking off some of the boxes" in the parable of the sheep and the goats are a big one. For example, I'd never have gotten involved with the local food pantry if not for some of the folks at my church, who opened that door for me. Another benefit is the ability to make connections with people who may not be as comfortable with technology. At 36, I'm about half the age of most of the folks who attend the traditional worship service I go to at my church. You're not likely to find most people in their seventies on Facebook unless you're one of their grandchildren (and even then you may not), but they often make fantastic mentors and role models. They have, after all, seen a lot of life in all those years. And there is something profoundly moving about being at a traditional candlelight Christmas service that no amount of high-definition video will ever replicate.

Still, I think there is a tremendous amount to be gained by taking advantage of the modern ability to engage folks we'd have never known existed in ages past. I've made real, lasting friendships, been challenged in my entrenched views, had some fantastic games, and grown in my faith - all without ever leaving my home.

]]>Episode 50 - Live - Making Interesting Characters (Part 2)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-50-live-making-interesting-characters-part-2/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-50-live-making-interesting-characters-part-2/#commentsTue, 18 Nov 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-50-live-making-interesting-characters-part-2/It’s Part Two of the special LIVE recording we did with listener questions to celebrate fifty episodes of STG! Thanks again to everyone who participated, and thanks to everyone who’s kept us going all this time! If you missed it, you can re-watch the whole, unedited show on YouTube or listen to Part One right here.

]]>It's Part Two of the special LIVE recording we did with listener questions to celebrate fifty episodes of STG! Thanks again to everyone who participated, ...
It's Part Two of the special LIVE recording we did with listener questions to celebrate fifty episodes of STG! Thanks again to everyone who participated, and thanks to everyone who's kept us going all this time! If you missed it, you can re-watch the whole, unedited show on YouTube or listen to Part One right here.
Scripture: Proverbs 17:17, Romans 8:35, James 1:2-4]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:48:56Blog: Who Do You Play?http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-who-do-you-play/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-who-do-you-play/#commentsTue, 11 Nov 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameBlogPeterhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-who-do-you-play/During our live episode, I asked Grant, mostly rhetorically, what kind of characters I play. My intention was to illustrate for the audience that I tend to play an archetype and then segue into noting that this is a fairly common practice. In so doing, I reminded myself of something I should have remembered, namely: “Don’t ask Grant a question unless you’re ready for an insightful answer.”

Because Grant gave me an answer that I really didn’t expect (though I probably should have): “You.” And then he went on to enumerate his supporting evidence for that statement, which was more plentiful than I consciously realized.

Still, there’s no denying that I put myself into my characters; up until recently, they almost all even shared my own eye and hair coloration (gray/brown). Player characters of mine are usually some member or former member of the “protector class” - military, espionage, or law enforcement. In a fan [...]

]]>During our live episode, I asked Grant, mostly rhetorically, what kind of characters I play. My intention was to illustrate for the audience that I tend to play an archetype and then segue into noting that this is a fairly common practice. In so doing, I reminded myself of something I should have remembered, namely: "Don't ask Grant a question unless you're ready for an insightful answer."

Because Grant gave me an answer that I really didn't expect (though I probably should have): "You." And then he went on to enumerate his supporting evidence for that statement, which was more plentiful than I consciously realized.

Still, there's no denying that I put myself into my characters; up until recently, they almost all even shared my own eye and hair coloration (gray/brown). Player characters of mine are usually some member or former member of the "protector class" - military, espionage, or law enforcement. In a fantasy setting, they are typically tied to a god of protection, justice, or similar concepts. For reasons I mentioned in Episode 50, a lot of them had facial scars.

Something that few of you will know is that for years I was planning on a career in law enforcement. Learning what effects getting that wish would have on the rest of my life took the bloom off that rose, but I still have a deep appreciation for what Lt. Col Dave Grossman refers to as "sheepdogs" because I have a good idea what they sacrifice and put up with in order to fill those roles in society. Still, as much as I admire the sheepdogs in real life, that's only part of why I like playing them.

Protectors typically have access that more mundane folks do not. The character that probably represented the "peak" of the archetype described above was a superhero called Overwatch that I played in a Mutants & Masterminds game years ago. Despite having fewer points in his powers than any of the other PCs, he was (by unanimous agreement) the most effective character in the game. You'll notice I said "effective" and not "powerful" there. Let me explain.

Overwatch had been in the Chicago PD, and the US Air Force and at the start of the game was working for the DHS. He had the power of arrest and official credentials. Furthermore, he had investigational skills and the mindset of a law enforcer. That meant that he could walk into a bank or convenience store and get access to their security camera feeds just by asking and nobody was suspicious of his motives. He could patrol an area in an unmarked law enforcement vehicle, but if he needed traffic out of his way, it was as simple as flipping on the lights and siren. He could get dossiers on known bad guys. He knew how to look for what was out of place in a scene, and unlike most superheroes, if someone came after him, on or off duty, they were messing with a sworn officer of the law, not some random civilian. With all of that, his flight, low-level super-strength and potent spatial manipulation abilities were just icing on the cake.

Paladins in a lot of fantasy settings enjoy similar benefits, and even former members of these professions retain their skills. They also benefit from a solid potential mix of brains, brawn, and social abilities, making them useful in a wide variety of situations in play. Given all of that, is it any wonder I enjoy that archetype so much?

Still, if for no other reason than I think Grant is getting sick of "Peter Characters," I'll probably try to break out of that wheelhouse next time I make a new PC. If nothing else, it'll be interesting to see how well I take to playing, for example, a wizard or a druid in a fantasy game, or perhaps a hacker or con man in a modern one.

At the very least, it'll give us something else to talk about on the podcast.

]]>Episode 50 - Live - Making Interesting Characters (Part 1)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-50-live-making-interesting-characters-part-1/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-50-live-making-interesting-characters-part-1/#commentsTue, 04 Nov 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-50-live-making-interesting-characters-part-1/For our 50th episode, we wanted to do something a little special: A live episode recorded via Hangouts On-Air, with listener questions and responses! It turned out amazingly well, and we’re excited to do another one in the future. Thanks to everyone who participated, and thanks to everyone who’s kept us going for fifty episodes and more! If you missed it, you can re-watch the whole, unedited show on YouTube (and marvel at the amount of editing Branden does to make our episodes sound halfway decent.)

]]>For our 50th episode, we wanted to do something a little special: A live episode recorded via Hangouts On-Air, with listener questions and responses! It turned out amazingly well, and we're excited to do another one in the future. Thanks to everyone who participated, and thanks to everyone who's kept us going for fifty episodes and more! If you missed it, you can re-watch the whole, unedited show on YouTube (and marvel at the amount of editing Branden does to make our episodes sound halfway decent.)

]]>For our 50th episode, we wanted to do something a little special: A live episode recorded via Hangouts On-Air, with listener questions and responses! It ...
For our 50th episode, we wanted to do something a little special: A live episode recorded via Hangouts On-Air, with listener questions and responses! It turned out amazingly well, and we're excited to do another one in the future. Thanks to everyone who participated, and thanks to everyone who's kept us going for fifty episodes and more! If you missed it, you can re-watch the whole, unedited show on YouTube (and marvel at the amount of editing Branden does to make our episodes sound halfway decent.)
Show notes: Our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group has started, and you can help us support their excellent work here! Also, visit our store, and buy something for someone you think might like the show and the gift—Christmas is coming up, after all.
Scripture: Proverbs 17:17, Romans 8:35, James 1:2-4]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:42:07Blog: Close to the Edgehttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-close-to-the-edge/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-close-to-the-edge/#commentsTue, 28 Oct 2014 07:00:00 -0400savingthegameBlogPeterhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/blog-close-to-the-edge/Something you all may or may not know: I listen to every episode of Saving the Game after it releases. As the only regular host who has never done audio editing, if I don’t make a conscious effort to listen to the episodes after they’re released, I never get to hear them. Usually, that experience is just a nice refresher of an interesting conversation I had with some friends that happened to be recorded, but every now and then, I get hit with something like this: toward the end of our episode with Ken Hite, Ken asked a question in the segment about horror and Christianity that I didn’t actually answer. Fatigue took over and I wound up going on a rambling tangent, but the question was good enough that after listening to the final episode and facepalming for a few minutes, I decided that it still deserved an answer.

The question was: “Any times when you’ve been playing horror games and thinking ‘oh, that was a little close to the edge f [...]

]]>Something you all may or may not know: I listen to every episode of Saving the Game after it releases. As the only regular host who has never done audio editing, if I don't make a conscious effort to listen to the episodes after they're released, I never get to hear them. Usually, that experience is just a nice refresher of an interesting conversation I had with some friends that happened to be recorded, but every now and then, I get hit with something like this: toward the end of our episode with Ken Hite, Ken asked a question in the segment about horror and Christianity that I didn't actually answer. Fatigue took over and I wound up going on a rambling tangent, but the question was good enough that after listening to the final episode and facepalming for a few minutes, I decided that it still deserved an answer.

The question was: “Any times when you've been playing horror games and thinking 'oh, that was a little close to the edge for me'?”

My answer back on the 2nd when we recorded was a long rambling monologue about using Christian tropes in horror, which completely missed the point of the question and also kind of cut my co-hosts off from that conversational road by the time it was over. (Sorry guys; I was not at my best that evening.)

The real answer is “Yes,” but the specific games weren't ones which I had in mind at the time. The first example was in my friend Kevin's Ravenloft game which I've referenced a number of times on the podcast. Why I didn't remember it at the time of the recording is beyond me; Ravenloft is a horror setting, Branden brought Ravenloft up earlier in the podcast, and the Ravenloft game was one of my favorites of all time.

The point of the Ravenloft game was that the player characters were Dark Lords of Ravenloft that were getting second chances and didn't remember; I was given Lord Soth to play (though I didn't realize it until much later; Kevin's GMing skills made that revelation alone a pretty unsettling turn of events). During one of the sessions where my PC finally came to grips with who and what he was, Kevin co-opted me to play him as the evil person he used to be, and he did some pretty dark and cruel things. Ultimately, the rest of the party broke him out of the cycle of replaying evil memories and he was a changed (if still flawed) person, but that was pretty unsettling.

The second incident was at Fear the Con 7, in a con game of Ragnarok: Fate of the Norns. The story had us, a bunch of Viking warriors, fighting against some “servants of the White God” - Crusaders with the serial numbers filed off. The game didn't hammer on present-day Christianity at all, and in fact portrayed the Crusader analogs as pretty nasty, awful people (which a lot of them were). But when the party tracked several of them down and slew them, I still felt weird about it.

And I think those incidents both point to the same thing: sometimes the stuff that makes you the most uncomfortable has the potential to teach you the most if you can take some time and think about it afterward. The Ravenloft game taught me that playing evil, monstrous player characters, even in the short-term, was going to hold the ugly parts of my own soul up in a way that I didn't like; while there is some value in coming to grips with one's own dark side, I wonder if, at some point, it's just “feeding the bad wolf.” The Ragnarok game made confront some lingering “nationalism” over Christianity, which is something I still wonder about the lines with. There are pretty clear directives in scripture, particularly in the writings of Paul, to love each other in the church, but what do you do when a believer you have no way of influencing publicly espouses things you feel are wrong, or even downright despicable? What are the rules of engagement with co-religionists who have “snapped” and gone off the deep end in one way or another? And how do I react when the roles are flipped and someone confronts me? I don't have those answers, and I wish I did. Sometimes when you get close to the line, you can see why, how, and what you need to do differently. And sometimes? It's as murky as the mists of Ravenloft.

—Peter

]]>Episode 49 - Horror Games (with Kenneth Hite)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-49-horror-games-with-kenneth-hite/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-49-horror-games-with-kenneth-hite/#commentsTue, 21 Oct 2014 13:43:52 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-49-horror-games-with-kenneth-hite/Award-winning author and game designer Kenneth Hite joins Grant, Peter and Branden for a discussion of horror games and stories, just in time for Halloween! Check out Ken’s own podcast, Ken And Robin Talk About Stuff, and keep an eye out for The Dracula Dossier, a really neat project he’ll be Kickstarting soon. We also plug our upcoming charity drive for The Bodhana Group and our store.

After our Scripture readings, we talk with Ken about the fun of horror stories; running a good horror game; types of horror; creating the right amount of fear and horror in games; and writing and playing horror as a [...]

After our Scripture readings, we talk with Ken about the fun of horror stories; running a good horror game; types of horror; creating the right amount of fear and horror in games; and writing and playing horror as a Christian. Enjoy!

]]>Award-winning author and game designer Kenneth Hite joins Grant, Peter and Branden for a discussion of horror games and stories, just in time for Halloween! ...
Award-winning author and game designer Kenneth Hite joins Grant, Peter and Branden for a discussion of horror games and stories, just in time for Halloween! Check out Ken's own podcast, Ken And Robin Talk About Stuff, and keep an eye out for The Dracula Dossier, a really neat project he'll be Kickstarting soon. We also plug our upcoming charity drive for The Bodhana Group and our store.
After our Scripture readings, we talk with Ken about the fun of horror stories; running a good horror game; types of horror; creating the right amount of fear and horror in games; and writing and playing horror as a Christian. Enjoy!
Scripture: Numbers 16:32-34, Psalm 91:5, Matthew 6:34, 2 Timothy 1:7]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:08:35Episode 48 - Trustworthy Charactershttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-48-trustworthy-characters/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-48-trustworthy-characters/#commentsTue, 07 Oct 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-48-trustworthy-characters/Peter and Branden are back to talk about trustworthiness! First, a reminder about our upcoming LIVE recording of Episode 50, and an account of Save Against Fear 2014 from Branden. Then, we get down to the business of trust. We talk about why players don’t trust NPCs; how to convince players that their characters should trust a given NPC; how to indicate that a character isn’t trustworthy; and what to do when a player character can’t be trusted. Enjoy!

]]>Peter and Branden are back to talk about trustworthiness! First, a reminder about our upcoming LIVE recording of Episode 50, and an account of Save Against Fear 2014 from Branden. Then, we get down to the business of trust. We talk about why players don't trust NPCs; how to convince players that their characters should trust a given NPC; how to indicate that a character isn't trustworthy; and what to do when a player character can't be trusted. Enjoy!

Scripture:]]>

Peter and Branden are back to talk about trustworthiness! First, a reminder about our upcoming LIVE recording of Episode 50, and an account of Save ...
Peter and Branden are back to talk about trustworthiness! First, a reminder about our upcoming LIVE recording of Episode 50, and an account of Save Against Fear 2014 from Branden. Then, we get down to the business of trust. We talk about why players don't trust NPCs; how to convince players that their characters should trust a given NPC; how to indicate that a character isn't trustworthy; and what to do when a player character can't be trusted. Enjoy!
Scripture:Proverbs 10:9, Luke 16:10]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:45:11Episode 47 - Monstershttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-47-monsters/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-47-monsters/#commentsTue, 23 Sep 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-47-monsters/Grant, Peter and Branden are back with thoughts on monsters! Our brief news segment discusses our new online store (go buy a shirt or a mug, they’re awesome), a plug for the LIVE episode we’ll record Oct. 16th, and some comments on our completed backlog and our Facebook, Google+ and Twitter feeds. Then we get down to business and talk about monsters (reprising the topic for Crossover Nexus #2, which Peter appeared on.) Why are stories about monsters interesting? What makes particular monsters interesting? How can we and should we use monsters in our games and stories? And what are our [...]]]>Grant, Peter and Branden are back with thoughts on monsters! Our brief news segment discusses our new online store (go buy a shirt or a mug, they're awesome), a plug for the LIVE episode we'll record Oct. 16th, and some comments on our completed backlog and our Facebook, Google+ and Twitter feeds. Then we get down to business and talk about monsters (reprising the topic for Crossover Nexus #2, which Peter appeared on.) Why are stories about monsters interesting? What makes particular monsters interesting? How can we and should we use monsters in our games and stories? And what are our favorite monsters? (Also, since we said we'd link it in the show notes, check out Extra Credits' "The Beast Macabre".)

]]>Grant, Peter and Branden are back with thoughts on monsters! Our brief news segment discusses our new online store (go buy a shirt or a ...
Grant, Peter and Branden are back with thoughts on monsters! Our brief news segment discusses our new online store (go buy a shirt or a mug, they're awesome), a plug for the LIVE episode we'll record Oct. 16th, and some comments on our completed backlog and our Facebook, Google+ and Twitter feeds. Then we get down to business and talk about monsters (reprising the topic for Crossover Nexus #2, which Peter appeared on.) Why are stories about monsters interesting? What makes particular monsters interesting? How can we and should we use monsters in our games and stories? And what are our favorite monsters? (Also, since we said we'd link it in the show notes, check out Extra Credits' "The Beast Macabre".)
Scripture: Numbers 13:32-33, Job 41:12-14, Matthew 14:25-27]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:52:14Episode 46 - Kindness (Virtues & Vices, Part 12)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-46-kindness-virtues-vices-part-12/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-46-kindness-virtues-vices-part-12/#commentsTue, 09 Sep 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-46-kindness-virtues-vices-part-12/Grant’s back, and there’s so much news! Our official store is open, Peter’s getting published again, Branden has a job, and our live Q&A episode is coming up. And all that’s before we get into our main topic, Kindness. After defining kindness and discussing its nature as a virtue, we dive headlong into its in-game uses and role as a storytelling trope. Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of kindness at the gaming table.

]]>Grant's back, and there's so much news! Our official store is open, Peter's getting published again, Branden has a job, and our live Q&A episode is coming up. And all that's before we get into our main topic, Kindness. After defining kindness and discussing its nature as a virtue, we dive headlong into its in-game uses and role as a storytelling trope. Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of kindness at the gaming table.

]]>Grant's back, and there's so much news! Our official store is open, Peter's getting published again, Branden has a job, and our live QA episode ...
Grant's back, and there's so much news! Our official store is open, Peter's getting published again, Branden has a job, and our live Q&A episode is coming up. And all that's before we get into our main topic, Kindness. After defining kindness and discussing its nature as a virtue, we dive headlong into its in-game uses and role as a storytelling trope. Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of kindness at the gaming table.
Scripture: Micah 6:8, Ezekiel 36:26, Matthew 25:34-40, Colossians 3:12, Ephesians 4:32]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:39:51Bonus Episode 4 - Brandon Tells A Storyhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-4-brandon-tells-a-story/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-4-brandon-tells-a-story/#commentsTue, 26 Aug 2014 12:43:07 -0400savingthegameBonus EpisodesSeriesScience of Storytellinghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-4-brandon-tells-a-story/BIG NEWS: Branden will be a Save Against Fear 2014! If you’re not familiar with SAFe and The Bodhana Group, take a listen to Episode 25, “Therapeutic Roleplaying (with Jack Berkenstock)”.

This should be our last bonus episode for a bit—Grant will be back next episode—but Peter and Branden wanted to take some of the work we’ve done in our Science of Storytelling series and apply it to a real campaign pitch, with multiple demands from virtual players (all played by Peter) and Branden as the GM. Enjoy!

This should be our last bonus episode for a bit—Grant will be back next episode—but Peter and Branden wanted to take some of the work we've done in our Science of Storytelling series and apply it to a real campaign pitch, with multiple demands from virtual players (all played by Peter) and Branden as the GM. Enjoy!

]]>BIG NEWS:Branden will be a Save Against Fear 2014! If you're not familiar with SAFe and The Bodhana Group, take a listen to Episode 25, ...
BIG NEWS: Branden will be a Save Against Fear 2014! If you're not familiar with SAFe and The Bodhana Group, take a listen to Episode 25, "Therapeutic Roleplaying (with Jack Berkenstock)".
This should be our last bonus episode for a bit—Grant will be back next episode—but Peter and Branden wanted to take some of the work we've done in our Science of Storytelling series and apply it to a real campaign pitch, with multiple demands from virtual players (all played by Peter) and Branden as the GM. Enjoy!
Scripture: Proverbs 4:13, Luke 6:40]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:44:43Bonus Episode 3 - Story Ideashttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-3-story-ideas/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-3-story-ideas/#commentsTue, 12 Aug 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-3-story-ideas/Peter and Branden take a break from the usual episode sequence to talk about their story and game ideas that haven’t made it to the table yet! We also plug Save Against Fear 2014, in Lancaster, PA, September 12-14. (Branden might actually be able to go!)

]]>Peter and Branden take a break from the usual episode sequence to talk about their story and game ideas that haven't made it to the table yet! We also plug Save Against Fear 2014, in Lancaster, PA, September 12-14. (Branden might actually be able to go!)

]]>Peter and Branden take a break from the usual episode sequence to talk about their story and game ideas that haven't made it to the ...
Peter and Branden take a break from the usual episode sequence to talk about their story and game ideas that haven't made it to the table yet! We also plug Save Against Fear 2014, in Lancaster, PA, September 12-14. (Branden might actually be able to go!)
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:38:21Episode 45 - Envy (Virtues & Vices, Part 11)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-45-envy-virtues-vices-part-11/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-45-envy-virtues-vices-part-11/#commentsTue, 29 Jul 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-45-envy-virtues-vices-part-11/Branden and Peter continue our Virtues & Vices series with a discussion of Envy! BIG news first, though: Episode 50 will be recorded LIVE, with an ongoing listener Q&A during the episode! Also, Grant’s working on t-shirts and other STG products. Then we talk about Envy: The Christian definition of it, why it’s a capital vice, using it in games and stories, and dealing with it at the table.

]]>Branden and Peter continue our Virtues & Vices series with a discussion of Envy! BIG news first, though: Episode 50 will be recorded LIVE, with an ongoing listener Q&A during the episode! Also, Grant's working on t-shirts and other STG products. Then we talk about Envy: The Christian definition of it, why it's a capital vice, using it in games and stories, and dealing with it at the table.

]]>Branden and Peter continue ourVirtues Vices serieswith a discussion of Envy! BIG news first, though: Episode 50 will be recorded LIVE, with an ongoing ...
Branden and Peter continue our Virtues & Vices series with a discussion of Envy! BIG news first, though: Episode 50 will be recorded LIVE, with an ongoing listener Q&A during the episode! Also, Grant's working on t-shirts and other STG products. Then we talk about Envy: The Christian definition of it, why it's a capital vice, using it in games and stories, and dealing with it at the table.
Scripture: Genesis 4:2-10, Exodus 20:17, Proverbs 14:30, Luke 15:25-30, James 3:13-18]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:46:53Episode 44 - Oaths and Vowshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-44-oaths-and-vows/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-44-oaths-and-vows/#commentsTue, 15 Jul 2014 09:20:20 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-44-oaths-and-vows/Peter and Branden will be holding down the next couple of episodes—Grant’s got some medical issues and can’t podcast for a while. But we’ve got extra STG-related content to make up for it! Peter was on Episode 2 of the Crossover Nexus roundtable podcast (as was Mike Perna of Game Store Prophets), so give that a listen too. We also have a new logo, courtesy of Ruben at 3d6 Design; it looks awesome, so thanks very much, Ruben!

After that news (and a little bit more), we get down to business: Talking about oaths and vows in games. We define oaths, vows and pledges; discuss the dangers of vows; and then explore the gaming and roleplaying opportunities such promises provide us as GMs and players.

Scripture:

]]>Peter and Branden will be holding down the next couple of episodes—Grant's got some medical issues and can't podcast for a while. But we've got extra STG-related content to make up for it! Peter was on Episode 2 of the Crossover Nexus roundtable podcast (as was Mike Perna of Game Store Prophets), so give that a listen too. We also have a new logo, courtesy of Ruben at 3d6 Design; it looks awesome, so thanks very much, Ruben!

After that news (and a little bit more), we get down to business: Talking about oaths and vows in games. We define oaths, vows and pledges; discuss the dangers of vows; and then explore the gaming and roleplaying opportunities such promises provide us as GMs and players.

]]>Peter and Branden will be holding down the next couple of episodes—Grant's got some medical issues and can't podcast for a while. But we've got ...
Peter and Branden will be holding down the next couple of episodes—Grant's got some medical issues and can't podcast for a while. But we've got extra STG-related content to make up for it! Peter was on Episode 2 of the Crossover Nexus roundtable podcast (as was Mike Perna of Game Store Prophets), so give that a listen too. We also have a new logo, courtesy of Ruben at 3d6 Design; it looks awesome, so thanks very much, Ruben!
After that news (and a little bit more), we get down to business: Talking about oaths and vows in games. We define oaths, vows and pledges; discuss the dangers of vows; and then explore the gaming and roleplaying opportunities such promises provide us as GMs and players.
Scripture: Numbers 30:2; Judges 11:30-32, 34-35; Matthew 5:33-37]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:33:47Episode 43 - Unity vs. Uniformity (with Ed Healy)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-43-unity-vs-uniformity-with-ed-healy/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-43-unity-vs-uniformity-with-ed-healy/#commentsThu, 03 Jul 2014 09:36:47 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-43-unity-vs-uniformity-with-ed-healy/Peter was at Fear the Con 7 when we recorded this one, but that’s okay—Ed Healy, founder of Gamerati and co-host of Atomic Array, joined Grant and Branden as a guest host this episode! After a few preliminaries we got into a fairly broad topic that Ed wanted to talk about: Unity vs. uniformity, or handling a table (and other social groups) full of different people without squashing individuality. It turned into a lot of fun and covered a wide range of examples and issues! We also talked briefly about Stephen Weese’s excellent book God Loves The Freaks. Thanks for join [...]]]>Peter was at Fear the Con 7 when we recorded this one, but that's okay—Ed Healy, founder of Gamerati and co-host of Atomic Array, joined Grant and Branden as a guest host this episode! After a few preliminaries we got into a fairly broad topic that Ed wanted to talk about: Unity vs. uniformity, or handling a table (and other social groups) full of different people without squashing individuality. It turned into a lot of fun and covered a wide range of examples and issues! We also talked briefly about Stephen Weese's excellent book God Loves The Freaks. Thanks for joining us, Ed; we appreciate it!

]]>Peter was at Fear the Con 7 when we recorded this one, but that's okay—Ed Healy, founder of Gamerati and co-host of Atomic Array, joined ...
Peter was atFear the Con 7 when we recorded this one, but that's okay—Ed Healy, founder of Gamerati and co-host of Atomic Array, joined Grant and Branden as a guest host this episode! After a few preliminaries we got into a fairly broad topic that Ed wanted to talk about: Unity vs. uniformity, or handling a table (and other social groups) full of different people without squashing individuality. It turned into a lot of fun and covered a wide range of examples and issues! We also talked briefly about Stephen Weese's excellent book God Loves The Freaks. Thanks for joining us, Ed; we appreciate it!

Scripture: Psalm 133, John 13:34-35, Philippians 4:4-7]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:37:48Episode 42 - Blessings and Curseshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-42-blessings-and-curses/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-42-blessings-and-curses/#commentsTue, 17 Jun 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-42-blessings-and-curses/Grant, Peter, and Branden are back at it! In news: Branden’s read a book, Peter preemptively thanks everyone for an amazing time at Fear the Con, and Grant tries really hard not to make jokes about the episode number (and encourages everyone to read The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy instead.) Then we hit our main topic: Blessings and curses. We talk about what they are (and aren’t); how they appear in Scripture and the history of Christianity; how they’re often used in RPGs; and how to use them in interesting ways. Enjoy!

Scripture:

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden are back at it! In news: Branden's read a book, Peter preemptively thanks everyone for an amazing time at Fear the Con, and Grant tries really hard not to make jokes about the episode number (and encourages everyone to read The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy instead.) Then we hit our main topic: Blessings and curses. We talk about what they are (and aren't); how they appear in Scripture and the history of Christianity; how they're often used in RPGs; and how to use them in interesting ways. Enjoy!

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden are back at it! In news: Branden's read a book, Peter preemptively thanks everyone for an amazing time at Fear the ...
Grant, Peter, and Branden are back at it! In news: Branden's read a book, Peter preemptively thanks everyone for an amazing time at Fear the Con, and Grant tries really hard not to make jokes about the episode number (and encourages everyone to read The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy instead.) Then we hit our main topic: Blessings and curses. We talk about what they are (and aren't); how they appear in Scripture and the history of Christianity; how they're often used in RPGs; and how to use them in interesting ways. Enjoy!
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 11:26-29; Joshua 6:26; Psalm 109:6-15; Mark 11:12-14, 20-25]]>Saving the GameCleanNo42:43Episode 41 - The Types of Storieshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-41-the-types-of-stories/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-41-the-types-of-stories/#commentsTue, 03 Jun 2014 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesScience of Storytellinghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-41-the-types-of-stories/Professor Branden schools Peter and Grant on some traditional lists of archetypal stories! We start things off with a reminder that Peter will be at Fear the Con 7 from June 12th to June 14th (find him there and say ‘hello’!), and a mention of our appearance on Game Store Prophets #74, “Tearing The Veil Of Familiarity”. Then we dive right in with Booker’s seven story archetypes, Polti’s Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations, and Snyder’s ten basic movie plots. Oh, and somewhere along the way Grant plugs ]]>Professor Branden schools Peter and Grant on some traditional lists of archetypal stories! We start things off with a reminder that Peter will be at Fear the Con 7 from June 12th to June 14th (find him there and say 'hello'!), and a mention of our appearance on Game Store Prophets #74, "Tearing The Veil Of Familiarity". Then we dive right in with Booker's seven story archetypes, Polti's Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations, and Snyder's ten basic movie plots. Oh, and somewhere along the way Grant plugs Happy Jacks RPG Podcast's "Tales from the Floating Vagabond" Actual Play (NSFW). Phew!

]]>Professor Branden schools Peter and Grant on some traditional lists of archetypal stories! We start things off with a reminder that Peter will be at ...
Professor Branden schools Peter and Grant on some traditional lists of archetypal stories! We start things off with a reminder that Peter will be at Fear the Con 7 from June 12th to June 14th (find him there and say 'hello'!), and a mention of our appearance on Game Store Prophets #74, "Tearing The Veil Of Familiarity". Then we dive right in with Booker's seven story archetypes, Polti's Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations, and Snyder's ten basic movie plots. Oh, and somewhere along the way Grant plugs Happy Jacks RPG Podcast's "Tales from the Floating Vagabond" Actual Play (NSFW). Phew!
Scripture: >Genesis 25:24-34, Ecclesiastes 1:9, Matthew 13:13]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:16:09Episode 40 - Religious Ordershttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-40-religious-orders/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-40-religious-orders/#commentsTue, 20 May 2014 01:00:08 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-40-religious-orders/Grant, Peter, and Branden are back around the mics for a discussion about holy orders and, er, sheep. We kick things off with a bit of an explanation of our missed episode, a plug for Save Against Fear, and a few personal notes. Then we dive headlong into religious orders and how to use them (or create them) in your game! We throw lots of historical examples into the mix (along with a length segue on sheep), and we wrap up with a long list of thoughts and questions you should ask yourself about the religious organizations you’re creating.

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden are back around the mics for a discussion about holy orders and, er, sheep. We kick things off with a bit of an explanation of our missed episode, a plug for Save Against Fear, and a few personal notes. Then we dive headlong into religious orders and how to use them (or create them) in your game! We throw lots of historical examples into the mix (along with a length segue on sheep), and we wrap up with a long list of thoughts and questions you should ask yourself about the religious organizations you're creating.

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden are back around the mics for a discussion about holy orders and, er, sheep. We kick things off with a bit ...
Grant, Peter, and Branden are back around the mics for a discussion about holy orders and, er, sheep. We kick things off with a bit of an explanation of our missed episode, a plug for Save Against Fear, and a few personal notes. Then we dive headlong into religious orders and how to use them (or create them) in your game! We throw lots of historical examples into the mix (along with a length segue on sheep), and we wrap up with a long list of thoughts and questions you should ask yourself about the religious organizations you're creating.

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:48:01No Regular Episode Todayhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/no-regular-episode-today/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/no-regular-episode-today/#commentsTue, 06 May 2014 01:00:29 -0400savingthegameBonus EpisodesNewshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/no-regular-episode-today/Sorry — no regular episode today. Peter’s father-in-law passed away on the day we were slated to record today’s episode (with a guest host), and that threw our schedule off rather a bit more than we could handle. A few more details are in the news update we attached here. However, there’s an extra “Retro Tuesday” upload this week as we attempt to catch up with our backlog, and we recorded a guest appearance on Game Store Prophets for later this month, so content is indeed forthcoming!
]]>Game Store Prophets for later this month, so content is indeed forthcoming!]]>Sorry -- no regular episode today. Peter's father-in-law passed away on the day we were slated to record today's episode (with a guest host), and ...Saving the GameCleanNo00:01:24Episode 39 - Chastity (Virtues & Vices, Part 10)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-39-chastity-virtues-vices-part-10/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-39-chastity-virtues-vices-part-10/#commentsTue, 22 Apr 2014 01:00:43 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-39-chastity-virtues-vices-part-10/After an aside on the books which have impacted us most strongly, Grant, Peter and Branden settle in on a difficult and unpopular topic: Chastity. We take a few minutes to define it, then discuss the prospect of using chastity as an in-game plot driver or character trait. We wrap up with a discussion of chastity — and respect — at the gaming table.

]]>After an aside on the books which have impacted us most strongly, Grant, Peter and Branden settle in on a difficult and unpopular topic: Chastity. We take a few minutes to define it, then discuss the prospect of using chastity as an in-game plot driver or character trait. We wrap up with a discussion of chastity -- and respect -- at the gaming table.

]]>After an aside on the books which have impacted us most strongly, Grant, Peter and Branden settle in on a difficult and unpopular topic: Chastity. ...
After an aside on the books which have impacted us most strongly, Grant, Peter and Branden settle in on a difficult and unpopular topic: Chastity. We take a few minutes to define it, then discuss the prospect of using chastity as an in-game plot driver or character trait. We wrap up with a discussion of chastity -- and respect -- at the gaming table.
Scripture: Exodus 20:14, Job 31:1-4, Ephesians 5:1-13]]>Saving the GameCleanNo56:19Episode 38 - Christians on the Convention Scene (with Derek White)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-39-christians-on-the-convention-scene-with-derek-white/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-39-christians-on-the-convention-scene-with-derek-white/#commentsTue, 08 Apr 2014 01:00:48 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-39-christians-on-the-convention-scene-with-derek-white/Derek W. White, a.k.a. the “Geek Preacher“, joins Grant, Peter, and Branden as a guest host, bringing with him his knowledge of the geek convention scene and Christian organizations and activities within it. The Christian Gamers’ Guild, Fans For Christ, GameChurch, and Innroads Ministries all get specific shoutouts, as do the worship services at a few major conventions. We also spend some time talking about being a Christian at geeky conventions, and a geek at Chri [...]]]>Derek W. White, a.k.a. the "Geek Preacher", joins Grant, Peter, and Branden as a guest host, bringing with him his knowledge of the geek convention scene and Christian organizations and activities within it. The Christian Gamers' Guild, Fans For Christ, GameChurch, and Innroads Ministries all get specific shoutouts, as do the worship services at a few major conventions. We also spend some time talking about being a Christian at geeky conventions, and a geek at Christian get-togethers. Finally, we wrap up with Derek's own personal journey to faith, a pastoral position, and a lifetime of geekery.

]]>Derek W. White, a.k.a. the "Geek Preacher", joins Grant, Peter, and Branden as a guest host, bringing with him his knowledge of the geek ...
Derek W. White, a.k.a. the "Geek Preacher", joins Grant, Peter, and Branden as a guest host, bringing with him his knowledge of the geek convention scene and Christian organizations and activities within it. The Christian Gamers' Guild, Fans For Christ, GameChurch, and Innroads Ministries all get specific shoutouts, as do the worship services at a few major conventions. We also spend some time talking about being a Christian at geeky conventions, and a geek at Christian get-togethers. Finally, we wrap up with Derek's own personal journey to faith, a pastoral position, and a lifetime of geekery.
Scripture: Genesis 12:1, Matthew 18:19-20, Hebrews 10:22-25]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:09:44Episode 37 - Lust (Virtues & Vices, Part 9)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-37-lust-virtues-vices-part-9/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-37-lust-virtues-vices-part-9/#commentsTue, 25 Mar 2014 01:00:44 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-37-lust-virtues-vices-part-9/Our Virtues & Vices series picks up again with a particularly difficult topic: Lust. We briefly plug Sojourn again, and then dive headlong into a discussion about this capital sin. We explain what lust is (and isn’t), why it’s a capital sin, and why it’s so pervasive and accepted. Then we talk about the problems (and storytelling opportunities) that the sin of lust can create in your game, discuss the problems lust can cause at the gaming table, and wrap up with some thoughts on how lust in particular bleeds across that in-game/out-of-game boundary.

]]>Our Virtues & Vices series picks up again with a particularly difficult topic: Lust. We briefly plug Sojourn again, and then dive headlong into a discussion about this capital sin. We explain what lust is (and isn't), why it's a capital sin, and why it's so pervasive and accepted. Then we talk about the problems (and storytelling opportunities) that the sin of lust can create in your game, discuss the problems lust can cause at the gaming table, and wrap up with some thoughts on how lust in particular bleeds across that in-game/out-of-game boundary.

]]>Our Virtues & Vices series picks up again with a particularly difficult topic: Lust. We briefly plug Sojourn again, and then dive headlong into a ...
Our Virtues & Vices series picks up again with a particularly difficult topic: Lust. We briefly plug Sojourn again, and then dive headlong into a discussion about this capital sin. We explain what lust is (and isn't), why it's a capital sin, and why it's so pervasive and accepted. Then we talk about the problems (and storytelling opportunities) that the sin of lust can create in your game, discuss the problems lust can cause at the gaming table, and wrap up with some thoughts on how lust in particular bleeds across that in-game/out-of-game boundary.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 11-12,Proverbs 6:27-29, Matthew 5:27-30, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20]]>Saving the GameCleanNo43:33Episode 36 - Romance in Gameshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-36-romance-in-games/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-36-romance-in-games/#commentsTue, 11 Mar 2014 01:00:39 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-36-romance-in-games/We’re back with a lot of news and a great topic: Romance! We’re proud to announce that Peter was published in Sojourn: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction, a collection recently released by Fear the Boot. We’re also proud of composer Ryan Humphrey, an old friend of Grant’s who kindly gave us our intro and outtro music and who had a small part in the production of the music for Disney’s Frozen. Our sincere and delighted congratulations to both of them!

We also talked about a rather complex topic: Romance and romantic relationships in games and stories. We touched [...]

]]>We're back with a lot of news and a great topic: Romance! We're proud to announce that Peter was published in Sojourn: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction, a collection recently released by Fear the Boot. We're also proud of composer Ryan Humphrey, an old friend of Grant's who kindly gave us our intro and outtro music and who had a small part in the production of the music for Disney's Frozen. Our sincere and delighted congratulations to both of them!

We also talked about a rather complex topic: Romance and romantic relationships in games and stories. We touched on its value as a plot or subplot, the reasons it's often an uncomfortable and avoided element in games, good fictional examples, and how to make it work in your game. Enjoy!

]]>We're back with a lot of news and a great topic: Romance! We're proud to announce that Peter was published in Sojourn: An Anthology of ...
We're back with a lot of news and a great topic: Romance! We're proud to announce that Peter was published in Sojourn: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction, a collection recently released by Fear the Boot. We're also proud of composer Ryan Humphrey, an old friend of Grant's who kindly gave us our intro and outtro music and who had a small part in the production of the music for Disney's Frozen. Our sincere and delighted congratulations to both of them!
We also talked about a rather complex topic: Romance and romantic relationships in games and stories. We touched on its value as a plot or subplot, the reasons it's often an uncomfortable and avoided element in games, good fictional examples, and how to make it work in your game. Enjoy!
Scripture: Song of Songs 2:16-17, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 1 Corinthians 7:8-9]]>Saving the GameCleanNo54:43Episode 35 - Resurrectionhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-35-resurrection/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-35-resurrection/#commentsTue, 25 Feb 2014 01:00:18 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-35-resurrection/In a thematic continuation from our previous episode on death, Grant, Peter and Branden talk about resurrection! We first address the question of whether a game that features any resurrection other than the resurrection of the body through Christ can be played by Christians; then, we discuss how the details of resurrection can have a significant impact on your game and its story. We cover numerous fictional resurrection stories, from Highlander to To Your Scattered Bodies Go, and wrap up with a recommendation from Peter: Rev. Adam Hamilton’s Jan. 26th sermon, “The Meaning of Christ’s Death”.

Scripture:

]]>In a thematic continuation from our previous episode on death, Grant, Peter and Branden talk about resurrection! We first address the question of whether a game that features any resurrection other than the resurrection of the body through Christ can be played by Christians; then, we discuss how the details of resurrection can have a significant impact on your game and its story. We cover numerous fictional resurrection stories, from Highlander to To Your Scattered Bodies Go, and wrap up with a recommendation from Peter: Rev. Adam Hamilton's Jan. 26th sermon, "The Meaning of Christ's Death".

]]>In a thematic continuation fromour previous episode on death, Grant, Peter and Branden talk about resurrection! We first address the question of whether a game ...
In a thematic continuation from our previous episode on death, Grant, Peter and Branden talk about resurrection! We first address the question of whether a game that features any resurrection other than the resurrection of the body through Christ can be played by Christians; then, we discuss how the details of resurrection can have a significant impact on your game and its story. We cover numerous fictional resurrection stories, from Highlander to To Your Scattered Bodies Go, and wrap up with a recommendation from Peter: Rev. Adam Hamilton's Jan. 26th sermon, "The Meaning of Christ's Death".
Scripture: Daniel 12:2, Luke 24:1-12, John 11:1-44]]>Saving the GameCleanNo49:32Episode 34 - Deathhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-34-death/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-34-death/#commentsTue, 11 Feb 2014 01:00:39 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-34-death/After only a little bit of banter and news (including an official announcement relating to our backlog of missing episodes), Grant, Peter and Branden jump right into a particularly heavy topic: Death. We discuss the problems and opportunities that character deaths can create in your games, and suggest some tips for dealing with some of those common problems (both in- and out-of-game). Then we talk a great deal about storytelling hooks relating to death—and survival—in a multitude of forms. (Fair warning: There’s also a small technical hiccup towards the end. Our apologies!)

]]>After only a little bit of banter and news (including an official announcement relating to our backlog of missing episodes), Grant, Peter and Branden jump right into a particularly heavy topic: Death. We discuss the problems and opportunities that character deaths can create in your games, and suggest some tips for dealing with some of those common problems (both in- and out-of-game). Then we talk a great deal about storytelling hooks relating to death—and survival—in a multitude of forms. (Fair warning: There's also a small technical hiccup towards the end. Our apologies!)

]]>After only a little bit of banter and news (including an official announcement relating to our backlog of missing episodes), Grant, Peter and Branden jump ...
After only a little bit of banter and news (including an official announcement relating to our backlog of missing episodes), Grant, Peter and Branden jump right into a particularly heavy topic: Death. We discuss the problems and opportunities that character deaths can create in your games, and suggest some tips for dealing with some of those common problems (both in- and out-of-game). Then we talk a great deal about storytelling hooks relating to death—and survival—in a multitude of forms. (Fair warning: There's also a small technical hiccup towards the end. Our apologies!)

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Revelation 14:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:51:56Episode 33 - Our Origin Storieshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-33-our-origin-stories/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-33-our-origin-stories/#commentsTue, 28 Jan 2014 01:00:27 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-33-our-origin-stories/We welcome guest host Mike from Innroads Ministries and Game Store Prophets! Mike introduces our listeners to Innroads, and we talk a bit about “geek ministries” before settling in with our scripture and our topic: Our own origin stories. This episode ended up being a sequence of fairly personal discussions of our roads to both gaming and faith — about as close to testimony as we can probably get. A lot of things we haven’t mentioned before came out in this episode, and we hope you enjoy it!

]]>We welcome guest host Mike from Innroads Ministries and Game Store Prophets! Mike introduces our listeners to Innroads, and we talk a bit about "geek ministries" before settling in with our scripture and our topic: Our own origin stories. This episode ended up being a sequence of fairly personal discussions of our roads to both gaming and faith -- about as close to testimony as we can probably get. A lot of things we haven't mentioned before came out in this episode, and we hope you enjoy it!

]]>We welcome guest host Mike fromInnroads MinistriesandGame Store Prophets! Mike introduces our listeners to Innroads, and we talk a bit about "geek ministries" before settling ...
We welcome guest host Mike from Innroads Ministries and Game Store Prophets! Mike introduces our listeners to Innroads, and we talk a bit about "geek ministries" before settling in with our scripture and our topic: Our own origin stories. This episode ended up being a sequence of fairly personal discussions of our roads to both gaming and faith -- about as close to testimony as we can probably get. A lot of things we haven't mentioned before came out in this episode, and we hope you enjoy it!
Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2, John 1:1-5, Matthew 13:3-9]]>Saving the GameCleanNo53:04Episode 32 - Forgivenesshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-32-forgiveness/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-32-forgiveness/#commentsTue, 14 Jan 2014 01:00:37 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-32-forgiveness/In this episode, Grant and Peter introduce our syndication partnership with Innroads Ministries, and thank everyone who donated to The Bodhana Group through our fundraiser (and everyone else who participated in the 2013 RPG Podcasters Fundraiser Drive.) Then we start off a discussion of forgiveness with a long C. S. Lewis reading, explaining just how difficult—and how important—forgiveness is. We go over its central place in Christian theology; discuss forgiveness as a gaming plot device; and wrap up with commentary on forgiveness at the gaming table.

]]>In this episode, Grant and Peter introduce our syndication partnership with Innroads Ministries, and thank everyone who donated to The Bodhana Group through our fundraiser (and everyone else who participated in the 2013 RPG Podcasters Fundraiser Drive.) Then we start off a discussion of forgiveness with a long C. S. Lewis reading, explaining just how difficult—and how important—forgiveness is. We go over its central place in Christian theology; discuss forgiveness as a gaming plot device; and wrap up with commentary on forgiveness at the gaming table.

]]>In this episode, Grant and Peter introduce our syndication partnership with Innroads Ministries, and thank everyone who donated to The Bodhana Group through our fundraiser ...
In this episode, Grant and Peter introduce our syndication partnership with Innroads Ministries, and thank everyone who donated to The Bodhana Group through our fundraiser (and everyone else who participated in the 2013 RPG Podcasters Fundraiser Drive.) Then we start off a discussion of forgiveness with a long C. S. Lewis reading, explaining just how difficult—and how important—forgiveness is. We go over its central place in Christian theology; discuss forgiveness as a gaming plot device; and wrap up with commentary on forgiveness at the gaming table.
Scripture: Jonah 3:10-4:11, Matthew 22:34-40, John 3:16, Luke 15:20-24]]>Saving the GameCleanNo50:15Bonus Episode - 2014 New Years Resolutionshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-2014-new-years-resolutions/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-2014-new-years-resolutions/#commentsTue, 31 Dec 2013 01:00:28 -0400savingthegameBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-2014-new-years-resolutions/It’s our annual New Years bonus episode! Grant, Peter, and Branden review their 2013 New Years resolutions and how well they lived up to them (or not). Then we dive headlong into our resolutions for 2014, talking about the improvements we want to make in our faith, our personal lives, and our gaming careers.
]]>It's our annual New Years bonus episode! Grant, Peter, and Branden review their 2013 New Years resolutions and how well they lived up to them ...Saving the GameCleanNo00:41:49Episode 31 - Religious Holidayshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-31-religious-holidays/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-31-religious-holidays/#commentsTue, 17 Dec 2013 01:00:54 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-31-religious-holidays/We kick off our pseudo-Christmas episode with a shoutout to all our new listeners and a reminder about our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and a bit more brief news (as well as a Cooking Comically reference.) Then we turn to our discussion topic: Religious holidays in your game! We talk about their importance, possible trappings, and their history (or lack thereof). Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of our own favorite Christmas traditions.

]]>We kick off our pseudo-Christmas episode with a shoutout to all our new listeners and a reminder about our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and a bit more brief news (as well as a Cooking Comically reference.) Then we turn to our discussion topic: Religious holidays in your game! We talk about their importance, possible trappings, and their history (or lack thereof). Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of our own favorite Christmas traditions.

]]>We kick off our pseudo-Christmas episode with a shoutout to all our new listeners and a reminder aboutour fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and a ...
We kick off our pseudo-Christmas episode with a shoutout to all our new listeners and a reminder about our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group, and a bit more brief news (as well as aCooking Comically reference.) Then we turn to our discussion topic: Religious holidays in your game! We talk about their importance, possible trappings, and their history (or lack thereof). Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of our own favorite Christmas traditions.

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:13-15, Romans 14:5-6]]>Saving the GameCleanNo59:38Episode 30 - Long Campaigns (with Ben Rome)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-30-long-campaigns-with-ben-rome/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-30-long-campaigns-with-ben-rome/#commentsTue, 03 Dec 2013 01:00:45 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-30-long-campaigns-with-ben-rome/We welcome back guest host Ben Rome, co-author of Games’ Most Wanted and Assistant Line Developer for Catalyst’s Battletech line! We discuss the 2013 RPG Podcasters’ Charity Drive and our own fundraiser for The Bodhana Group – including a rundown of all the latest prize news. Then we dive into a discussion of long campaigns, using a four-year campaign from Ben’s gaming past as a prime example. We go over the advantages and disadvantages of long campaigns compared to one-shots and mini-campaigns; how to make long campaigns work; pitfalls they might present; and problems to overcome.

Scripture:

]]>We welcome back guest host Ben Rome, co-author of Games' Most Wanted and Assistant Line Developer for Catalyst's Battletech line! We discuss the 2013 RPG Podcasters' Charity Drive and our own fundraiser for The Bodhana Group -- including a rundown of all the latest prize news. Then we dive into a discussion of long campaigns, using a four-year campaign from Ben's gaming past as a prime example. We go over the advantages and disadvantages of long campaigns compared to one-shots and mini-campaigns; how to make long campaigns work; pitfalls they might present; and problems to overcome.

]]>We welcome back guest host Ben Rome, co-author ofGames' Most Wantedand Assistant Line Developer for Catalyst's Battletech line! We discussthe 2013 RPG Podcasters' Charity Driveandour ...
We welcome back guest host Ben Rome, co-author of Games' Most Wanted and Assistant Line Developer for Catalyst's Battletech line! We discuss the 2013 RPG Podcasters' Charity Drive and our own fundraiser for The Bodhana Group -- including a rundown of all the latest prize news. Then we dive into a discussion of long campaigns, using a four-year campaign from Ben's gaming past as a prime example. We go over the advantages and disadvantages of long campaigns compared to one-shots and mini-campaigns; how to make long campaigns work; pitfalls they might present; and problems to overcome.
Scripture: Genesis 45:24, Psalm 90:12-15, Galatians 4:12-13]]>Saving the GameCleanNo1:26:30Episode 29 - Giving in Games (with Stephen Jarjoura)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-29-giving-in-games-with-stephen-jarjoura/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-29-giving-in-games-with-stephen-jarjoura/#commentsTue, 19 Nov 2013 01:00:40 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-29-giving-in-games-with-stephen-jarjoura/Peter and Grant welcome Steve Jarjoura from Postcards from the Dungeon as a guest host! We talk about our fundraiser for The Bodhana Group and the 2013 RPG Podcasters Charity Drive, as well as Josh Jordan’s Actual Play Festival. Then we get down to business and talk about organized charities and their storytelling value in tabletop roleplaying games.

In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden plug a couple of things, including Atomacon, before getting down to the main topic: Playing evil characters in roleplaying games. We look at the topic from both the players’ and the GM’s perspectives, examining why you want to or need to be able to play evil characters and how to do so effectively without ruining play or giving in to that character’s evil yourself.

In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden plug a couple of things, including Atomacon, before getting down to the main topic: Playing evil characters in roleplaying games. We look at the topic from both the players' and the GM's perspectives, examining why you want to or need to be able to play evil characters and how to do so effectively without ruining play or giving in to that character's evil yourself.

]]>It's fundraiser time! We're raising money this year for The Bodhana Group as part of the 2013 RPG Podcasters Charity Drive!
In this episode, Grant, Peter, ...
It's fundraiser time! We're raising money this year for The Bodhana Group as part of the 2013 RPG Podcasters Charity Drive!
In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden plug a couple of things, including Atomacon, before getting down to the main topic: Playing evil characters in roleplaying games. We look at the topic from both the players' and the GM's perspectives, examining why you want to or need to be able to play evil characters and how to do so effectively without ruining play or giving in to that character's evil yourself.
Scripture: Isaiah 1:18-20, Romans 3:10-12, Ephesians 6:10-11]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:23:04Episode 27 - Episodic Structure and Pacing (Science of Storytelling, Part 2)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-27-episodic-structure-and-pacing/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-27-episodic-structure-and-pacing/#commentsTue, 22 Oct 2013 07:00:28 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesScience of Storytellinghttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-27-episodic-structure-and-pacing/Branden, Mike, Peter, and Grant pick up our “Science of Storytelling” series with a discussion of episodic storytelling structure and pacing! Branden walks us through the structure and guides the discussion; and as usual, we come up with examples along the way. See the full show notes for Branden’s suggested outline.

]]>Branden, Mike, Peter, and Grant pick up our "Science of Storytelling" series with a discussion of episodic storytelling structure and pacing! Branden walks us through the structure and guides the discussion; and as usual, we come up with examples along the way. See the full show notes for Branden's suggested outline.

Branden, Mike, Peter, and Grant pick up our "Science of Storytelling" series with a discussion of episodic storytelling structure and pacing! Branden walks us through ...
Branden, Mike, Peter, and Grant pick up our "Science of Storytelling" series with a discussion of episodic storytelling structure and pacing! Branden walks us through the structure and guides the discussion; and as usual, we come up with examples along the way. See the full show notes for Branden's suggested outline.
Scripture: Genesis 1:14-18, Matthew 28:19-20

Branden's suggested episodic structure outline:

I see a problem
and decide to do something
that helps the situation
but something else happens related to one of my actions
and I must deal with that
so the world can be right again

Dan Harmon's "Story Structure 101" outline (mildly NSFW language)]]>Saving the GameCleanNo50:17Episode 26 - Patience (Virtues & Vices, Part 8)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-26-patience-virtues-vices-part-8/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-26-patience-virtues-vices-part-8/#commentsTue, 08 Oct 2013 08:50:04 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-26-patience-virtues-vices-part-8/We’re back with more virtues! This time, we’re talking about the virtue of Patience, and its glosses of Peace and Mercy. As usual, we discuss and define Patience from a theological perspective, and then talk about its in-character and at-the-table uses.

]]>We're back with more virtues! This time, we're talking about the virtue of Patience, and its glosses of Peace and Mercy. As usual, we discuss and define Patience from a theological perspective, and then talk about its in-character and at-the-table uses.

]]>We're back with more virtues! This time, we're talking about the virtue of Patience, and its glosses of Peace and Mercy. As usual, we discuss ...
We're back with more virtues! This time, we're talking about the virtue of Patience, and its glosses of Peace and Mercy. As usual, we discuss and define Patience from a theological perspective, and then talk about its in-character and at-the-table uses.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:8-9, Hebrews 10:32-38, Galatians 5:22-25, James 1:19-20]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:05:00Episode 25 - Therapeutic Roleplaying (with Jack Berkenstock)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-25-therapeutic-roleplaying-with-jack-berkenstock/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-25-therapeutic-roleplaying-with-jack-berkenstock/#commentsWed, 18 Sep 2013 11:41:10 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-25-therapeutic-roleplaying-with-jack-berkenstock/It’s our distinct pleasure to welcome Jack Berkenstock of The Bodhana Group as a guest host for this episode! We give Jack plenty of time to talk about his group and their mission to help young victims and perpetrators of sexual trauma—a mission they’re carrying out with tabletop roleplaying games as a crucial therapeutic tool. We also discuss the science and goals of therapeutic roleplaying and trauma therapy in general. Plus, we do our best to plug Save Against Fear, a three-day convention in Lancaster, PA from Oct. 11th-13th hosted by and fundraising for The Bodhana Group. A big list of everything Jack mentioned is below the fold, too.

We don’t usually ask this, but please share this episode around. We want to get the word out about Save Against Fear in time for [...]

]]>It's our distinct pleasure to welcome Jack Berkenstock of The Bodhana Group as a guest host for this episode! We give Jack plenty of time to talk about his group and their mission to help young victims and perpetrators of sexual trauma—a mission they're carrying out with tabletop roleplaying games as a crucial therapeutic tool. We also discuss the science and goals of therapeutic roleplaying and trauma therapy in general. Plus, we do our best to plug Save Against Fear, a three-day convention in Lancaster, PA from Oct. 11th-13th hosted by and fundraising for The Bodhana Group. A big list of everything Jack mentioned is below the fold, too.

We don't usually ask this, but please share this episode around. We want to get the word out about Save Against Fear in time for people to decide to go, and we want people to know about and support The Bodhana Group as well! Bodhana has a Facebook page and Twitter feed too, if that's your thing.

]]>It's our distinct pleasure to welcome Jack Berkenstock of The Bodhana Group as a guest host for this episode! We give Jack plenty of time to talk ...
It's our distinct pleasure to welcome Jack Berkenstock of The Bodhana Group as a guest host for this episode! We give Jack plenty of time to talk about his group and their mission to help young victims and perpetrators of sexual trauma—a mission they're carrying out with tabletop roleplaying games as a crucial therapeutic tool. We also discuss the science and goals of therapeutic roleplaying and trauma therapy in general. Plus, we do our best to plug Save Against Fear, a three-day convention in Lancaster, PA from Oct. 11th-13th hosted by and fundraising for The Bodhana Group. A big list of everything Jack mentioned is below the fold, too.

We don't usually ask this, but please share this episode around. We want to get the word out about Save Against Fear in time for people to decide to go, and we want people to know about and support The Bodhana Group as well! Bodhana has a Facebook page and Twitter feed too, if that's your thing.

-- rpgresearch.com]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:14:36Episode 24 - Wrath (Virtues & Vices, Part 7)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-24-wrath-virtues-vices-part-7/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-24-wrath-virtues-vices-part-7/#commentsTue, 10 Sep 2013 07:00:08 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-24-wrath-virtues-vices-part-7/We welcome Mike, occasionally known as Mindtakerr on the Internet, as a new host! Then we talk about wrath - when anger is (and isn’t) a mortal sin, and how it can manifest in people. Then we talk about how incredibly common wrath is in all forms of entertainment, including roleplaying games; and we wrap up with a discussion about handling anger and wrath in your group of players.

Two major announcements: This is the first episode in our new “Science of Storytelling” series; and Save Against Fear, a remarkable gaming convention and fundraiser for sexually traumatized kids, is the weekend of October 11th-13th. You’re going to be hearing much more about Save Against Fear in the future!

In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden (but mostly Branden) explain the continuous plot structure used in almost all movie scripts. (See our full show notes for a copy of that outline!) Then, Branden walks us through creating an actual plot for a game using the outline he laid out in the first half of the episode.

]]>Two major announcements: This is the first episode in our new "Science of Storytelling" series; and Save Against Fear, a remarkable gaming convention and fundraiser for sexually traumatized kids, is the weekend of October 11th-13th. You're going to be hearing much more about Save Against Fear in the future!

In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden (but mostly Branden) explain the continuous plot structure used in almost all movie scripts. (See our full show notes for a copy of that outline!) Then, Branden walks us through creating an actual plot for a game using the outline he laid out in the first half of the episode.

Sometimes the refusal of the call; provide choices and alternative actions

Break into 2B Story

In movies, usually romantic; in a game, perhaps one per PC

Fun and Games

The promise of the premise

Mid point

Either a “false defeat” or a “false victory”

Bad guys close inAll is lost

Either “false victory” or “false defeat” (The opposite of what ever the midpoint was, but it should be related to the midpoint twist)The ‘whiff of death’

Dark Night of the SoulBreak into 3

B-story should pay off here to provide hope

FinaleFinal Image

]]>Two major announcements: This is the first episode in our new "Science of Storytelling" series; and Save Against Fear, a remarkable gaming convention and fundraiser ...
Two major announcements: This is the first episode in our new "Science of Storytelling" series; and Save Against Fear, a remarkable gaming convention and fundraiser for sexually traumatized kids, is the weekend of October 11th-13th. You're going to be hearing much more about Save Against Fear in the future!
In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden (but mostly Branden) explain the continuous plot structure used in almost all movie scripts. (See our full show notes for a copy of that outline!) Then, Branden walks us through creating an actual plot for a game using the outline he laid out in the first half of the episode.
Scripture for this episode: Psalms 19:14, Philippians 4:8

The full outline we used in this episode:

Opening Image
The Set-up/Theme Stated
The Catalyst
Changes the world irrevocably; no going back
The Debate
Sometimes the refusal of the call; provide choices and alternative actions
Break into 2
B Story
In movies, usually romantic; in a game, perhaps one per PC
Fun and Games
The promise of the premise
Mid point
Either a “false defeat” or a “false victory”
Bad guys close in
All is lost

Either “false victory” or “false defeat” (The opposite of what ever the midpoint was, but it should be related to the midpoint twist)
The ‘whiff of death’

Dark Night of the Soul
Break into 3
B-story should pay off here to provide hope
Finale
Final Image

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:52:48Episode 22 - Morals in Storieshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-22-morals-in-stories/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-22-morals-in-stories/#commentsTue, 13 Aug 2013 10:17:35 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-22-morals-in-stories/Back when we recorded this episode, Saving the Game had just turned one year old! That’s pretty awesome! A big thanks to all of our listeners, old and new.

In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden discuss morality in storytelling: How to effectively tell stories with moral lessons without pontificating, without insulting the other players at the table, and without taking away player agency. Peter also references an episode of Extra Credits, “Beyond Fun” (S5E8).

]]>Saving the Game had just turned one year old! That's pretty awesome! A big thanks to all of our listeners, old and new.In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden discuss morality in storytelling: How to effectively tell stories with moral lessons without pontificating, without insulting the other players at the table, and without taking away player agency. Peter also references an episode of Extra Credits, "Beyond Fun" (S5E8).

Scripture for this episode: Micah 6:8, Proverbs 22:6, Galatians 6:7]]>Morals in Stories
Back when we recorded this episode, Saving the Game had just turned one year old! That's pretty awesome! A big thanks to all of our listeners, old and new.

In this episode, Grant, Peter, and Branden discuss morality in storytelling: How to effectively tell stories with moral lessons without pontificating, without insulting the other players at the table, and without taking away player agency. Peter also references an episode of Extra Credits, "Beyond Fun" (S5E8).

]]>Saving the GameCleanNo1:06:18Welcome to the new Saving the Game site!http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/welcome-to-the-new-saving-the-game-site/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/welcome-to-the-new-saving-the-game-site/#commentsMon, 12 Aug 2013 13:05:53 -0400savingthegameNewshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/welcome-to-the-new-saving-the-game-site/Saving the Game has switched to Podbean for our web hosting—they’re specifically designed for podcasts and as such, require much less maintenance. Unfortunately, that also means we have a bit less control over things like RSS feeds and core Wordpress settings, so a few things have changed.

First, our RSS feed is now at http://savingthegame.podbean.com/feed. This is also going to be our ‘default’ feed for podcast aggregators like RPGPodcasts.com, which means blog posts and the like will creep in. This is probably the biggest inconvenience for longtime listeners, and we apologize—we’d have kept our feed URL the same if we cou [...]

]]>Saving the Game has switched to Podbean for our web hosting—they're specifically designed for podcasts and as such, require much less maintenance. Unfortunately, that also means we have a bit less control over things like RSS feeds and core Wordpress settings, so a few things have changed.First, our RSS feed is now at http://savingthegame.podbean.com/feed. This is also going to be our 'default' feed for podcast aggregators like RPGPodcasts.com, which means blog posts and the like will creep in. This is probably the biggest inconvenience for longtime listeners, and we apologize—we'd have kept our feed URL the same if we could, but we just don't have a means to do so with the changes we've had to make to our website structure and DNS records.Second, our backlog will have to be slowly refreshed over the coming months. We have a limited amount of storage growth per month, and our first priority is new episodes rather than old content. I suspect that at the end of each month, we'll be uploading several backlog episodes in one go.Third, certain convenient website links, like our social media links and our syndication sidebar, will have to be redone from scratch.Other than that, we should be pretty much back on our feet. We apologize for the downtime, and we should be getting new content back out to you quickly!]]>Episode 21 - Redemption Storieshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-21-redemption-stories/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-21-redemption-stories/#commentsTue, 25 Jun 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-21-redemption-stories/This time our episode topic is redemption stories in your roleplaying games. We discuss how to successfully tell redemption stories in a collaborative storytelling environment; how these stories differ for protagonists and antagonists; redemption stories for player characters and NPCs; and how to get Branden and Peter to argue. Also, Peter’s bookseller rage activates!

]]>This time our episode topic is redemption stories in your roleplaying games. We discuss how to successfully tell redemption stories in a collaborative storytelling environment; how these stories differ for protagonists and antagonists; redemption stories for player characters and NPCs; and how to get Branden and Peter to argue. Also, Peter's bookseller rage activates!

]]>This time our episode topic is redemption stories in your roleplaying games. We discuss how to successfully tell redemption stories in a collaborative storytelling environment; ...
This time our episode topic is redemption stories in your roleplaying games. We discuss how to successfully tell redemption stories in a collaborative storytelling environment; how these stories differ for protagonists and antagonists; redemption stories for player characters and NPCs; and how to get Branden and Peter to argue. Also, Peter's bookseller rage activates!

Scripture: Psalm 111:9, Titus 2:11-14, Romans 3:22-24]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:55:46Episode 20 - Diligence (Virtues & Vices, Part 6)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-20-diligence-virtues-vices-part-6/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-20-diligence-virtues-vices-part-6/#commentsMon, 10 Jun 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-20-diligence-virtues-vices-part-6/Grant, Peter and Branden continue our Virtues & Vices series with an episode on Diligence, the virtue contrary to the vice of Sloth. As usual, we explain the virtue—both culturally and theologically—before talking about its application in games and in our lives.

]]>Scripture: Proverbs 13:4, Matthew 25:14-30, Ephesians 4:28]]>Grant, Peter and Branden continue our Virtues Vices series with an episode on Diligence, the virtue contrary to the vice of Sloth. As usual, ...
Scripture: Proverbs 13:4, Matthew 25:14-30, Ephesians 4:28]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:48:40Episode 19 - Sloth (Virtues & Vices, Part 5)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-19-sloth-virtues-vices-part-5/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-19-sloth-virtues-vices-part-5/#commentsTue, 07 May 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-19-sloth-virtues-vices-part-5/We’re back with Part 5 of our Virtues & Vices series! First, Grant talks about finding a church again, and some other news. Then we delve deep into one of the Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth. What is it? Why is it more than just laziness? Why is it dangerous, and how does it commonly manifest? And how can we use it in game, and deal with it at the table?

]]>We're back with Part 5 of our Virtues & Vices series! First, Grant talks about finding a church again, and some other news. Then we delve deep into one of the Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth. What is it? Why is it more than just laziness? Why is it dangerous, and how does it commonly manifest? And how can we use it in game, and deal with it at the table?

Scripture:]]>

We're back with Part 5 of our Virtues Vices series! First, Grant talks about finding a church again, and some other news. Then we ...
We're back with Part 5 of our Virtues & Vices series! First, Grant talks about finding a church again, and some other news. Then we delve deep into one of the Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth. What is it? Why is it more than just laziness? Why is it dangerous, and how does it commonly manifest? And how can we use it in game, and deal with it at the table?
Scripture:Proverbs 24:30-34, Hebrews 6:9-12]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:46:26Episode 18 - Problem Playershttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-18-problem-players/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-18-problem-players/#commentsTue, 23 Apr 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-18-problem-players/Grant, Peter, and Branden take on a listener question about problem players! First, Grant talks about finding a church, and Branden talks about moving. Then we dive into Scripture and our topic, which comes to us via a listener question: “Could you guys maybe do talk about how to deal with “that guy” and what the Bible says about those situations?” We can indeed! We talk about various categories of “problem” players, how to deal with those problem players at your table, and how to avoid being a problem player yourself. Enjoy!

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden take on a listener question about problem players! First, Grant talks about finding a church, and Branden talks about moving. Then we dive into Scripture and our topic, which comes to us via a listener question: "Could you guys maybe do talk about how to deal with "that guy" and what the Bible says about those situations?” We can indeed! We talk about various categories of "problem" players, how to deal with those problem players at your table, and how to avoid being a problem player yourself. Enjoy!

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden take on a listener question about problem players! First, Grant talks about finding a church, and Branden talks about moving. Then ...
Grant, Peter, and Branden take on a listener question about problem players! First, Grant talks about finding a church, and Branden talks about moving. Then we dive into Scripture and our topic, which comes to us via a listener question: "Could you guys maybe do talk about how to deal with "that guy" and what the Bible says about those situations?” We can indeed! We talk about various categories of "problem" players, how to deal with those problem players at your table, and how to avoid being a problem player yourself. Enjoy!
Scripture: Nehemiah 1:8-9, Philippians 2:3]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:06:12Episode 17 - Lines and Veilshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-17-lines-and-veils/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-17-lines-and-veils/#commentsMon, 08 Apr 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-17-lines-and-veils/It’s only Grant and Peter for this episode, but that’s not stopping us from handling an important topic: Lines and veils! We explain the concept and its history; talk about some common examples of “trigger warning” material; weigh player transgressions of these lines and veils against GM transgressions; and discuss how to implement them in your game. We also hit on a few other intermediate points.

]]>It's only Grant and Peter for this episode, but that's not stopping us from handling an important topic: Lines and veils! We explain the concept and its history; talk about some common examples of "trigger warning" material; weigh player transgressions of these lines and veils against GM transgressions; and discuss how to implement them in your game. We also hit on a few other intermediate points.

]]>It's only Grant and Peter for this episode, but that's not stopping us from handling an important topic: Lines and veils! We explain the concept ...
It's only Grant and Peter for this episode, but that's not stopping us from handling an important topic: Lines and veils! We explain the concept and its history; talk about some common examples of "trigger warning" material; weigh player transgressions of these lines and veils against GM transgressions; and discuss how to implement them in your game. We also hit on a few other intermediate points.
Scripture: Proverbs 22:3, Philippians 4:8]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:02:18Episode 16 - Faith and Science Fiction, Part 2 (with Ben Rome)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-16-faith-and-science-fiction-part-2-with-ben-rome/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-16-faith-and-science-fiction-part-2-with-ben-rome/#commentsSun, 31 Mar 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-16-faith-and-science-fiction-part-2-with-ben-rome/Grant, Peter, and Branden continue their conversation with Ben Rome, author of Games’ Most Wanted and Assistant Line Developer for Battletech over at Catalyst Game Labs. We’re still talking about faith and science fiction! Enjoy!
]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden continue their conversation with Ben Rome, author of Games' Most Wanted and Assistant Line Developer for Battletech over at Catalyst Game Labs. We're still talking about faith and science fiction! Enjoy!]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden continue their conversation with Ben Rome, author of Games' Most Wanted and Assistant Line Developer for Battletech over at Catalyst Game ...Saving the GameCleanNo00:59:03Episode 15 - Faith and Science Fiction (with Ben Rome)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-15-faith-and-science-fiction-with-ben-rome/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-15-faith-and-science-fiction-with-ben-rome/#commentsSun, 17 Mar 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-15-faith-and-science-fiction-with-ben-rome/Grant, Peter and Branden are joined by Ben H. Rome, Catalyst Game Labs’s Assistant Line Developer for Battletech and co-author (with FTB’s Chris Hussey) of the forthcoming book Games’ Most Wanted. We talk about the curious lack of religion in science fiction; integrating faith into sci-fi games and stories; how sci-fi tropes might affect Christianity and other faiths; and a whole lot more! This episode was so long we had to split it into two parts; stay tuned for Part 2.

]]>Grant, Peter and Branden are joined by Ben H. Rome, Catalyst Game Labs's Assistant Line Developer for Battletech and co-author (with FTB's Chris Hussey) of the forthcoming book Games' Most Wanted. We talk about the curious lack of religion in science fiction; integrating faith into sci-fi games and stories; how sci-fi tropes might affect Christianity and other faiths; and a whole lot more! This episode was so long we had to split it into two parts; stay tuned for Part 2.

]]>Grant, Peter and Branden are joined by Ben H. Rome,Catalyst Game Labs's Assistant Line Developer for Battletech and co-author (with FTB's Chris Hussey) of the ...
Grant, Peter and Branden are joined by Ben H. Rome, Catalyst Game Labs's Assistant Line Developer for Battletech and co-author (with FTB's Chris Hussey) of the forthcoming book Games' Most Wanted. We talk about the curious lack of religion in science fiction; integrating faith into sci-fi games and stories; how sci-fi tropes might affect Christianity and other faiths; and a whole lot more! This episode was so long we had to split it into two parts; stay tuned for Part 2.
Scripture: Psalm 8; Hebrews 1:10-12]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:00:47Episode 14 - Temperance (Virtues & Vices, Part 4)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-14-temperance-virtues-vices-part-4/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-14-temperance-virtues-vices-part-4/#commentsTue, 19 Feb 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-14-temperance-virtues-vices-part-4/Grant, Peter, and Branden continue our Virtues & Vices series with a look at Temperance! We talk over the usual news, and thank those who’ve commented on past episodes (that’s always nice.) Then we dive into our Temperance discussion: How it’s commonly used in Scripture; its prevalence as a virtue in many moral codes; how Christians treat it, and contrast it with Gluttony; and as usual, how to use Temperance in-game and how to promote it out-of-game.

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden continue our Virtues & Vices series with a look at Temperance! We talk over the usual news, and thank those who've commented on past episodes (that's always nice.) Then we dive into our Temperance discussion: How it's commonly used in Scripture; its prevalence as a virtue in many moral codes; how Christians treat it, and contrast it with Gluttony; and as usual, how to use Temperance in-game and how to promote it out-of-game.

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden continue our Virtues Vices series with a look at Temperance! We talk over the usual news, and thank those who've ...
Grant, Peter, and Branden continue our Virtues & Vices series with a look at Temperance! We talk over the usual news, and thank those who've commented on past episodes (that's always nice.) Then we dive into our Temperance discussion: How it's commonly used in Scripture; its prevalence as a virtue in many moral codes; how Christians treat it, and contrast it with Gluttony; and as usual, how to use Temperance in-game and how to promote it out-of-game.
Scripture: Proverbs 25:16; Ecclesiastes 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Ephesians 5:15-20]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:10:28Episode 13 - Gluttony (Virtues & Vices, Part 3)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-13-gluttony-virtues-vices-part-3/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-13-gluttony-virtues-vices-part-3/#commentsTue, 05 Feb 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-13-gluttony-virtues-vices-part-3/Grant, Peter, and Branden are back with the next part of our Virtues & Vices series! We start with the final tally for the first RPG Podcasters’ Charity Drive, and a bit of other news. Then we dive into Gluttony—what it is, common misconceptions, why it’s a sin, using it for characterization and plot in your game, and dealing with gluttony at the gaming table.

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden are back with the next part of our Virtues & Vices series! We start with the final tally for the first RPG Podcasters' Charity Drive, and a bit of other news. Then we dive into Gluttony—what it is, common misconceptions, why it's a sin, using it for characterization and plot in your game, and dealing with gluttony at the gaming table.

]]>Grant, Peter, and Branden are back with the next part of our Virtues Vices series! We start with the final tally for the first ...
Grant, Peter, and Branden are back with the next part of our Virtues & Vices series! We start with the final tally for the first RPG Podcasters' Charity Drive, and a bit of other news. Then we dive into Gluttony—what it is, common misconceptions, why it's a sin, using it for characterization and plot in your game, and dealing with gluttony at the gaming table.
Scripture: Genesis 25:30-34, Luke 7:31-35, Hebrews 12:14-17]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:08:51Episode 12 - Small Topic Roundup 1http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-12-small-topic-roundup-1/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-12-small-topic-roundup-1/#commentsThu, 24 Jan 2013 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-12-small-topic-roundup-1/Peter and Branden cover a variety of minor topics in this episode: Our STG group on Steam; Christian video game sites like GameChurch and Christ Centered Gamer; books we recommend for Christian geeks; Methodist circuit riders; games that Peter and Branden would love to play, but don’t think they’ll ever get to; naming NPCs; and a variety of useful GMing resources.

]]>Peter and Branden cover a variety of minor topics in this episode: Our STG group on Steam; Christian video game sites like GameChurch and Christ Centered Gamer; books we recommend for Christian geeks; Methodist circuit riders; games that Peter and Branden would love to play, but don't think they'll ever get to; naming NPCs; and a variety of useful GMing resources.

]]>Peter and Branden cover a variety of minor topics in this episode: Our STG group on Steam; Christian video game sites like GameChurch and Christ ...
Peter and Branden cover a variety of minor topics in this episode: Our STG group on Steam; Christian video game sites like GameChurch and Christ Centered Gamer; books we recommend for Christian geeks; Methodist circuit riders; games that Peter and Branden would love to play, but don't think they'll ever get to; naming NPCs; and a variety of useful GMing resources.
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1, Luke 16:10]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:23:59Bonus Episode 1 - 2013 New Years Resolutionshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-1-2013-new-years-resolutions/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-1-2013-new-years-resolutions/#commentsMon, 31 Dec 2012 01:00:49 -0400savingthegameEpisodesBonus Episodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/bonus-episode-1-2013-new-years-resolutions/A very special bonus episode! No scripture, but Branden, Peter, and Grant share their New Years resolutions relating to their faith, their personal lives, and their gaming career. Then we read some resolutions our listeners shared, and encourage them in their own resolutions.
]]>A very special bonus episode! No scripture, but Branden, Peter, and Grant share their New Years resolutions relating to their faith, their personal lives, and ...Saving the GameCleanNo1:20:55Episode 11 - Players Behaving Badlyhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-11-players-behaving-badly/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-11-players-behaving-badly/#commentsMon, 24 Dec 2012 01:00:27 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-11-players-behaving-badly/For your Christmas listening pleasure, another episode with Grant, Branden and Peter! This episode’s topic comes to us courtesy of “D3M410″ on the Fear the Boot forums, who asked how to deal with players whose characters don’t behave like good people, regardless of character concept. We also plug our charity fundraising drive, as well as some charity fundraising efforts from other RPG podcasts!

]]>For your Christmas listening pleasure, another episode with Grant, Branden and Peter! This episode's topic comes to us courtesy of "D3M410" on the Fear the Boot forums, who asked how to deal with players whose characters don't behave like good people, regardless of character concept. We also plug our charity fundraising drive, as well as some charity fundraising efforts from other RPG podcasts!

]]>For your Christmas listening pleasure, another episode with Grant, Branden and Peter! This episode's topic comes to us courtesy of "D3M410" on the Fear the ...
For your Christmas listening pleasure, another episode with Grant, Branden and Peter! This episode's topic comes to us courtesy of "D3M410" on the Fear the Boot forums, who asked how to deal with players whose characters don't behave like good people, regardless of character concept. We also plug our charity fundraising drive, as well as some charity fundraising efforts from other RPG podcasts!
Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:3, James 2:14-17]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:10:42Episode 10 - Gaming as a Church Activity (with Shannon Dickson)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-10-gaming-as-a-church-activity-with-shannon-dickson/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-10-gaming-as-a-church-activity-with-shannon-dickson/#commentsMon, 10 Dec 2012 01:00:18 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-10-gaming-as-a-church-activity-with-shannon-dickson/Here’s an early start to your Christmas holiday: We were very lucky to have Shannon Dickson, a.k.a. “Leoff” (or Mrs. Ninja to some), join us for this episode. Shannon talks about the games she runs as a church activity for kids and adults; some family-friendly settings she’s designed; and some great outside-the-box thinking for RPGs. Enjoy!

]]>Scripture: Proverbs 22:6, Colossians 3:16-17, Hebrews 10:24]]>Here's an early start to your Christmas holiday: We were very lucky to have Shannon Dickson, a.k.a. "Leoff" (or Mrs. Ninja to some), join us ...Saving the GameCleanNo01:17:55Episode 09 - Faith and Fantasy (with Dan Repperger)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-09-faith-and-fantasy-with-dan-repperger/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-09-faith-and-fantasy-with-dan-repperger/#commentsTue, 27 Nov 2012 01:00:33 -0400savingthegameEpisodesGuest Hosthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-09-faith-and-fantasy-with-dan-repperger/Our first guest host is an awfully good one: Dan Repperger from Fear the Boot! After we plug our fundraiser for PEG Partners, Grant, Peter, Branden, and Dan discuss the intersection of faith and fantasy. We talk about why they’re not mutually exclusive, the major fantasy works which have impacted us spiritually, running games within a Christian frame, and some concerns and benefits of doing so. Thanks again, Dan!

]]> Fear the Boot! After we plug our fundraiser for PEG Partners, Grant, Peter, Branden, and Dan discuss the intersection of faith and fantasy. We talk about why they're not mutually exclusive, the major fantasy works which have impacted us spiritually, running games within a Christian frame, and some concerns and benefits of doing so. Thanks again, Dan!Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:17-18, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11]]>Our first guest host is an awfully good one: Dan Repperger from Fear the Boot! After we plug our fundraiser for PEG Partners, Grant, Peter, Branden, ...Saving the GameCleanNo1:23:05Episode 08 - Setting Designhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-08-setting-design/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-08-setting-design/#commentsMon, 12 Nov 2012 01:00:00 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-08-setting-design/Grant, Peter and Branden talk about designing settings for your game! Using Peter’s game and homebrew setting as a case study, and a few other examples, we talk about all the elements that go into setting design, as well as how to get those design ideas started and handling player input. We also talk about setting design when you’re playing in someone else’s published setting.

]]>Grant, Peter and Branden talk about designing settings for your game! Using Peter's game and homebrew setting as a case study, and a few other examples, we talk about all the elements that go into setting design, as well as how to get those design ideas started and handling player input. We also talk about setting design when you're playing in someone else's published setting.

]]>Grant, Peter and Branden talk about designing settings for your game! Using Peter's game and homebrew setting as a case study, and a few other ...
Grant, Peter and Branden talk about designing settings for your game! Using Peter's game and homebrew setting as a case study, and a few other examples, we talk about all the elements that go into setting design, as well as how to get those design ideas started and handling player input. We also talk about setting design when you're playing in someone else's published setting.
Scripture: Exodus 35:30-33, James 1:17]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:13:38Episode 07 - Dark Settingshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-07-dark-settings/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-07-dark-settings/#commentsThu, 25 Oct 2012 01:00:17 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-07-dark-settings/Grant’s back! And believe us, he’s got a story to tell. He’s also got a topic to talk to Branden and Peter about: Whether or not it’s all right for Christians to play games set in explicitly dark settings like the Warhammer 40,000 universe. We break that conversation apart a bit, talking about three major types of ‘dark’ games in general, the problems they can present, and some possible solutions.

]]>Scripture: Job 34:21-24, 1 Corinthians 8:9-13]]>Grant's back! And believe us, he's got a story to tell. He's also got a topic to talk to Branden and Peter about: Whether or ...
Grant's back! And believe us, he's got a story to tell. He's also got a topic to talk to Branden and Peter about: Whether or not it's all right for Christians to play games set in explicitly dark settings like the Warhammer 40,000 universe. We break that conversation apart a bit, talking about three major types of 'dark' games in general, the problems they can present, and some possible solutions.

Scripture: Job 34:21-24, 1 Corinthians 8:9-13]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:04:32Episode 06 - Video Gameshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-06-video-games/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-06-video-games/#commentsTue, 18 Sep 2012 01:00:30 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-06-video-games/No Grant for this episode — he’s been busy with some personal issues. That means this episode is just Branden and Peter. It’s a short episode, discussing the intersection of faith and video games. We discuss how video games get faith right (and wrong), morality in video games, representations of the church in video games, and much more. Enjoy!

]]>No Grant for this episode -- he's been busy with some personal issues. That means this episode is just Branden and Peter. It's a short episode, discussing the intersection of faith and video games. We discuss how video games get faith right (and wrong), morality in video games, representations of the church in video games, and much more. Enjoy!

]]>No Grant for this episode -- he's been busy with some personal issues. That means this episode is just Branden and Peter. It's a short ...
No Grant for this episode -- he's been busy with some personal issues. That means this episode is just Branden and Peter. It's a short episode, discussing the intersection of faith and video games. We discuss how video games get faith right (and wrong), morality in video games, representations of the church in video games, and much more. Enjoy!
Scripture: Psalm 78:1-4, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Romans 14:19]]>Saving the GameCleanNo37:11Episode 05 - Charity (Virtues & Vices, Part 2)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-05-charity-virtues-vices-part-2/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-05-charity-virtues-vices-part-2/#commentsWed, 29 Aug 2012 01:01:52 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-05-charity-virtues-vices-part-2/We continue our Virtues & Vices series with our first (and according to Paul, the greatest) of the virtues: Charity, a.k.a love. We explain the Christian concept of charity and give some background theological material. Then we dive in to the in-game possibilities charity presents, as well as the out-of-game opportunities and needs for charity we have in our gaming groups and daily lives.

]]>Virtues & Vices series with our first (and according to Paul, the greatest) of the virtues: Charity, a.k.a love. We explain the Christian concept of charity and give some background theological material. Then we dive in to the in-game possibilities charity presents, as well as the out-of-game opportunities and needs for charity we have in our gaming groups and daily lives.Scripture: Luke 21:1-4, 1 John 3:17, 1 Corinthians 13:13]]>We continue our Virtues Vices series with our first (and according to Paul, the greatest) of the virtues: Charity, a.k.a love. We explain the Christian concept ...Virtues & Vices series with our first (and according to Paul, the greatest) of the virtues: Charity, a.k.a love. We explain the Christian concept of charity and give some background theological material. Then we dive in to the in-game possibilities charity presents, as well as the out-of-game opportunities and needs for charity we have in our gaming groups and daily lives.

Scripture: Luke 21:1-4, 1 John 3:17, 1 Corinthians 13:13]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:12:42Episode 04 - Avarice (Virtues & Vices, Part 1)http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-04-avarice-virtues-vices-part-1/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-04-avarice-virtues-vices-part-1/#commentsMon, 13 Aug 2012 01:00:22 -0400savingthegameEpisodesSeriesVirtues & Viceshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-04-avarice-virtues-vices-part-1/It’s an episode full of beginnings: Branden joins us for the first time as a host, and our Virtues & Vices series kicks off with a discussion of Avarice! We explain what avarice is (and isn’t), and discuss plot threads and character opportunities greed might present. We wrap up with a discussion of greed at the table—how it appears and how to avoid it.

]]>It's an episode full of beginnings: Branden joins us for the first time as a host, and our Virtues & Vices series kicks off with a discussion of Avarice! We explain what avarice is (and isn't), and discuss plot threads and character opportunities greed might present. We wrap up with a discussion of greed at the table—how it appears and how to avoid it.

]]>It's an episode full of beginnings: Branden joins us for the first time as a host, and our Virtues & Vices series kicks off with ...
It's an episode full of beginnings: Branden joins us for the first time as a host, and our Virtues & Vices series kicks off with a discussion of Avarice! We explain what avarice is (and isn't), and discuss plot threads and character opportunities greed might present. We wrap up with a discussion of greed at the table—how it appears and how to avoid it.
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10]]>Saving the GameCleanNo1:06:08Episode 03 - The Crusader Archetypehttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-03-the-crusader-archetype/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-03-the-crusader-archetype/#commentsMon, 30 Jul 2012 01:00:16 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-03-the-crusader-archetype/Episode 03, “The Crusader Archetype”, features a discussion of knights, crusaders, and Christian holy warriors, whether they be real, fictional or legendary. We also talk about Christian theories of “just war”; how crusading knights appear in published RPGs; and how to use them in your own game. Also, Peter talks about the Steam Summer Sale, and Grant sells Peter on Minecraft. Fun!

]]>Episode 03, "The Crusader Archetype", features a discussion of knights, crusaders, and Christian holy warriors, whether they be real, fictional or legendary. We also talk about Christian theories of "just war"; how crusading knights appear in published RPGs; and how to use them in your own game. Also, Peter talks about the Steam Summer Sale, and Grant sells Peter on Minecraft. Fun!

]]>Episode 03, "The Crusader Archetype", features a discussion of knights, crusaders, and Christian holy warriors, whether they be real, fictional or legendary. We also talk ...
Episode 03, "The Crusader Archetype", features a discussion of knights, crusaders, and Christian holy warriors, whether they be real, fictional or legendary. We also talk about Christian theories of "just war"; how crusading knights appear in published RPGs; and how to use them in your own game. Also, Peter talks about the Steam Summer Sale, and Grant sells Peter on Minecraft. Fun!
Scripture: John 15:13, 1 Samuel 17:45]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:16:07Episode 02 - Alignmenthttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-02-alignment/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-02-alignment/#commentsMon, 16 Jul 2012 12:00:51 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-02-alignment/In which Peter and Grant discuss alignment and other methods of modeling morality in roleplaying games, and how to use alignment mechanisms effectively without making them feel unnatural.

An additional note: Branden, a.k.a. SilverSeraphAE, will be joining us as a host in future episodes! That’s really awesome, and we’re very excited to have him on board. He added a lot to the discussion in this episodes from “behind the scenes”, so a big thank-you to him, too.
]]>An additional note: Branden, a.k.a. SilverSeraphAE, will be joining us as a host in future episodes! That's really awesome, and we're very excited to have him on board. He added a lot to the discussion in this episodes from "behind the scenes", so a big thank-you to him, too.]]>In which Peter and Grant discuss alignment and other methods of modeling morality in roleplaying games, and how to use alignment mechanisms effectively without making ...Saving the GameCleanNo00:50:29Episode 01 - Are RPGs Evil?http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-01-are-rpgs-evil/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-01-are-rpgs-evil/#commentsSun, 01 Jul 2012 12:00:15 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-01-are-rpgs-evil/In which Grant and Peter attempt to dispel the myth that roleplaying games are inherently evil. We discuss certain misinformed beliefs about what roleplaying games are and what problems they can cause Christians; certain commonly-cited examples of the “evil” of roleplaying games; and take a hard look at the real problems RPGs might introduce into someone’s life.
]]>real problems RPGs might introduce into someone's life.]]>In which Grant and Peter attempt to dispel the myth that roleplaying games are inherently evil. We discuss certain misinformed beliefs about what roleplaying games ...
In which Grant and Peter attempt to dispel the myth that roleplaying games are inherently evil. We discuss certain misinformed beliefs about what roleplaying games are and what problems they can cause Christians; certain commonly-cited examples of the "evil" of roleplaying games; and take a hard look at the real problems RPGs might introduce into someone's life.]]>Saving the GameCleanNo01:35:27Episode 00 - An Introductionhttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-00-an-introduction/
http://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-00-an-introduction/#commentsSat, 30 Jun 2012 12:00:18 -0400savingthegameEpisodeshttp://savingthegame.podbean.com/e/episode-00-an-introduction/In which Grant and Peter nervously try to explain who we are and what we’re trying to do with Saving the Game.
]]>Saving the Game.]]>In which Grant and Peter nervously try to explain who we are and what we're trying to do with Saving the Game.
In which Grant and Peter nervously try to explain who we are and what we're trying to do with Saving the Game.]]>Saving the GameCleanNo00:33:49